Bible Strands
Judges 4:2
So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his forces was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator addresses the Israelites' condition immediately following Ehud's death, marking their return to disobedience and subsequent subjugation under Canaanite authority. The account identifies Jabin as the reigning monarch in Hazor and Sisera as his military commander stationed in Harosheth-hagoyim.
The words — The Hebrew phrase וַיִּמְכֹּרֵם (va-yim-khōrêm) literally renders "and he sold them," while מָלַךְ (ma-lakh) means "he reigned." These lexical items establish the theological framework of divine surrender preceding human oppression.
The thread — The narrative directly continues the conflict introduced in Joshua 11:1 and anticipates the military mobilization described in Judges 4:13 and Judges 4:16. The geographic anchors of Hazor and Harosheth-hagoyim maintain continuity with the broader conquest and settlement narrative.
Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that historical defeat follows covenant failure before deliverance is pursued. It requires the reader to accept that political subjugation is a direct consequence of persistent disobedience.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
Cross-references
- Joshua 11:1 Now when Jabin king of Hazor heard about these things, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon; to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph;
- Judges 4:13 he summoned all nine hundred of his iron chariots and all the men with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the River Kishon.
- Judges 4:16 Then Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and the whole army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a single man was left.
- 1 Samuel 12:9 But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them.
- Psalms 83:9 Do to them as You did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon,
- Joshua 11:10 At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword, because Hazor was formerly the head of all these kingdoms.
- Judges 10:7 So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites,
- Joshua 19:36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,
- Judges 2:14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of those who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.
- Isaiah 50:1 This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.