The War Against Sisra at Har Tavor

Shoftim chapter 4

Life for the Bnei Yisroel living in Eretz Yisroel in ancient times was fraught with great danger. There were constant wars with the surrounding enemies. After the death of the great leaders such as Yehosua bin Nun and the other Shoftim who had led the Bnei Yisroel in battle and conquered much of the land, the Jews did not do a clean sweep of the land as Hashem had commanded them. There were still many pockets where the Canaani remained, and their influence had a disastrous effect on many of the Jews who lived among them. Idol worship and immorality spread, and many Jews started imitating the ways of those they lived amongst.

Hashem unleashed His wild dogs and snakes such as Amolek, the Midyonim, and our other bitter enemies, to attack the Jews in order to get them to do teshuvah and repent for their terrible misbehavior. When they returned to Him once again, Hashem, like a merciful father, forgave them and things became quite and peaceful for another few years.

However, as time went by, the lessons were soon forgotten, and the strong desire and urge to serve foreign gods and follow in the abominable ways of the Canaani spread like a raging fire. The Yetzer Horah that enticed the people to serve idols was so strong that it easily overpowered all reason and logic. It was somewhat like a person on drugs who knows that his habit will eventually lead to disaster and death, yet, he finds it extremely difficult to kick his habit. The yetzer horah to serve avodah zorah was so powerful and enticing, that in latter years, the rabbis had no choice but to destroy it completely. It is said that had we lived in those times, we would have crept on our hands and knees to kiss and worship it.

Before entering the land, Moshe Rabbeinu had warned them to remove every last one of the seven nations and destroy all their idols. Little do people realize how easily one is influenced by his surroundings. Just take a look at the sad state of affairs we are in today, with the rate of intermarriage on the increase, and much of the street’s immoral lifestyle slowly penetrating into so many of our homes.

Like today’s suicide bombers who have made many of Israel’s roads unsafe, the Jews in ancient times feared traveling because of the ambushes and terrorists that were hidden on the sides of every road. Traveling was fraught with danger and people were frightened to leave their homes.

Fortunately, there lived one very special wise woman by the name of Devorah from the Shevet of Naaftolie. She would sit under a date tree all day. Thousands of Jews flocked to her to hear her sound advice. She judged the people with her great wisdom, and honesty, and sense of justice. Devorah herself was very rich, owning many date trees and olive groves, and did not accept any money for judging or helping her people.

She was an extremely pious and righteous woman, who ultimately merited having Hashem’s Holy Spirit rested upon her. She was one of the seven prophetesses mentioned in Tanach. She would very meticulously prepare very thick wicks for the Mishkon which at that time stood in Shilo. She wanted the lights to shine bright and strong. She gave these wicks to her husband Barak who would personally deliver them to the Mishkon.

One day, when her husband Barak was away from home, the spirit of Hashem rested upon her and commanded her to tell her husband to go to war against the army of Sisra, the most hated and powerful enemy of the Jews. Obviously, women don’t go to war and therefore Hashem had given the job to her husband. She told him that Hashem had commanded that he select 10,000 men from the tribes of Naftolie as well as from her neighboring tribe of Zevulon and gather them together on the very top of the small nearby mountain named Tavor. Hashem will entice Sisra to attack, and you can rest assured that Hashem will be on your side and you will be victorious.

Her husband Barrack was afraid of going into battle against such a powerful army, and therefore told her that he needed her help and that she should accompany him in battle in order to reassure his soldiers that Hashem would indeed make them victorious. He was also afraid that he was not worthy of such a great miracle.

Devorah agreed to accompany him. However, she made it clear to him that he will not get the credit for the victory but rather the victory would be credited to a woman.

This didn’t seem to faze Barak in the least, and he now went about putting together his army which consisted of 10,000 untrained soldiers, poorly equipped to fight against a far superior well trained army that was equipped with the most advanced equipment of ancient times. Sisra possessed 900 iron chariots capable of defeating even the best horsemen.

Some of the people from Shevet Menashe joined Barak’s army.

When the mighty general Sisro heard that that the Jewish army stood ready to do battle with him and were stationed on top of the mountain of Tavor, he immediately decided to take his army and attack them. He was sure that having 900 iron chariots he could easily wipe them all out. When the surrounding kings heard that Sisro was going to go to battle against the Jews, they too decided to join him in order to help him drive all the Jews out of the land which they considered as theirs. They felt that now was an opportune time to put an end to the Jewish invaders who had stolen their land.

Sisra’s massive army assembled next to the narrow brook of Kishon that runs near the base of the mountain.

It was now midnight, the night of Pesach when Jews celebrate their freedom from Egypt. It was a special night upon which throughout history, countless miracles would occur. Devorah gave Barak the signal to attack. Despite the unbelievable odds Barak was up against, Barak courageously led his men down the mountain at great speed, putting his entire faith in Hashem. Suddenly, the Canaanite soldiers heard deafening sounds which led them to believe that thousands of horses and chariots were approaching. They began to panic and fled for their lives. As they began to flee Hashem changed the path of the stars and shooting stars and meteorites began coming down from the sky causing their armor to get burning hot. Seeing the nearby Kishon river, they jumped inside to cool off. Suddenly another great miracle occurred and the small stream turned into a raging river drowning the soldiers together with their horses.

( Note: They tell a story that when the Jews attacked the city of Tzfat and Yerushalayim during the 1948 war of independence the Jews had a large cannon which made a deafening noise but could do very little actual harm. Yet, when the Arabs heard the loud noise they all fled for their lives and the Jews captured the city of Tzfas with great ease. The gun now stands as a monument in Yerushalayim, which a posuk from the novi inscribed under it. It reads “V’haginoshi all hoir hazos l’manch u’leman Dovid avid.)

Barak and his army continued to give chase killing all those who tried to flee. The great and mighty general Sisra ran for his life trying to escape his pursuers. As he ran past a group of tents belonging to Chaiver Hakaini who was a descendant of Yisro, A women named Yael spotted someone running in her direction. She immediately recognized that it was none other then General Sisra. She was a very wise woman and immediately thought of a plan to capture him.

“Quick, get into my tent so that I can hide you,” she suggested as if trying to be of help. “I’m sure no one will think of looking for you in my tent,” she said with great cunning.

Sisra accepted her invitation and quickly entered her tent. She told him to lie down on the bed and covered him with a blanket for added safety.

Sisra was exhausted and thirsty and asked her for some water. Instead of giving him water she gave him a few cups of milk which makes one sleepy. He asked her to stand guard outside the tent in order to make sure that no one would come inside to look for him.

As soon as she saw that he had fallen asleep, she pulled out one of the pegs which held up the tent as well as a hammer. Walking silently to his bed, making sure he doesn’t wake up, she carefully placed the peg on his forehead and with one mighty blow of the hammer she drove the peg straight into his forehead smashing it to bits. The wicked Sisra had finally received what he deserved.

As Barak futilely searched for the missing general, Yael now emerged from her tent as she saw Barak running past her; she invited him in to show him that his prized possession who he chasing after lay dead on the bed, with blood splattered in all directions. It was a woman who would now receive all the glory for her brave and courageous act.

On that day Devorah sang a beautiful song thanking Hashem for the all the great miracles they had all witnessed.

In the meantime, Sisra’s mother peered through the window wondering why her son had not come home yet. She was expecting to hear a victory parade marching by her house. When she sudenly heard the terrible news of his death, she gave out a piercing cry. This is the same cry which we blow with the shofer on the holy day of Rosh Hashana when we cry out for Hashem’s Heavenly mercy