Haftorah

📖 Summary of Haftorah: Shoftim 4:4[1]-5:31

Chapter 4: Devorah & Barak

Sisra rules over the Jewish people:

The Jewish people return to sinful behavior: The Jewish people continued to perpetrate evil in the eyes of G-d, following[2] the death of Eihud.

The Jewish people fall under the reign of Yavin and Sisra: Hashem [as a punishment] had the Jewish people sold [i.e. placed under the government] of Yavin the king of Canaan who was the king of Chatzor [prior to its destruction[3]]. His general was Sisra. He lived in the city called Charoshes Hagoyim.

The suffering and army of Sisra: The Jewish people cried to Hashem in desperation of their suffering [under the hand of Sisra], as he had 900 metal chariots [of war] and used it to oppress the Jewish people.

Devora the Prophetess and Judge:

Who was Devorah? Devorah, the prophetess, who was the wife of Lapidos [whose real name was Barak Ben Avinoam[4], but was called the above name as he would make wicks for the Mikdash[5]], was the Judge of the Jewish people at that time.

Her location: He was located by her date palm trees [in Jericho[6]], and between the cities of Rama and Beis Eil [in which she owned vineyards and olive orchards[7]], on the mountains of Ephraim, and the Jewish people came to seek her judgment in that area.

The Jewish people prepare to battle Sisra:

Devorah instructs Barak to gather an army: Devorah sent for [her husband] Barak Ben Avinoam from the city of Kedesh Naftali and told him that the G-d of Israel has instructed him to gather 10,000 soldiers from the tribes of Naftali and Zevuln, and bring them to Mount Tabor [to wage war against Sisra[8]]. [Hashem stated that] He will draw Sisra and his army to the Kishon river, and there they will fall into their hands.

The reply of Barak: Barak replied to Devorah that if she goes with him [to wage war[9]] then he too will go, and if not then he will not go [as they will have Divine intervention to help them win the war if she comes[10]].

Devorah agrees to join the battle: Devorah replied to Barak that she agrees to join him in battle, although Barak should not boast of his victory over Sisra, as in truth Sisra will be handed over to the hand of a woman [i.e. Devorah, and some say Yael[11]]. Devorah then went ahead with Barak to the city of Kedsha.

Barak galvanizes troops: Barak called on the tribes of Zevulun and Naftali in Kedsha and gathered an army of 10,000 men. Devorah went together with them.

The encampment of Chever the Kini: Chever the Kini separated from [the encampment in the Judean desert[12] of] Kayin the son of Choveiv, the father in-law of Moshe. He encamped in Eilon Tzananim which is in Kedesh.

Sisra prepares for battle:

Sisra was informed that Barak the son of Avinoam has gone up to Mount Tabor [to wage war against them]. Sisra then recruited all of his 900 iron chariots and all of his nations [soldiers] who were with him, and they went from Charoshes Hagoyim to the Kishon river.

Barak attacks:

Devorah told Barak that he should go forward in battle as on this day Hashem has handed them Sisra into their hands, and Hashem will lead them in battle. Barak proceeded to descend the mountain of Tabor with his 10,000 men.

Hashem sowed confusion amongst Sisra and his army, and they were smitten by the sword of Barak. Sisra went off his chariot and fled on foot. Barak chased after the chariot of Sisra, and after his army, until Chershas Kohen. They smote the entire army of Sisra with the sword, and not one soldier remained.

Sisra seeks refuge in the tent of Yael and is killed:

Sisra ran by foot to the tent of Yael the wife of Chever the Kini. There were peaceful relations between Yavin the king of Chatzor and between Chever the Kini.

Sisra settles in Yael’s tent: Yael went forward to greet Sisra and told him that he should enter her tent, and that he should not fear. He went to her tent and she covered him with a [large wool[13]] sheet. Sisra asked Yael to be given a little bit of water to drink, as he was very thirsty. Yael thus opened the canteen of milk and gave him to drink and covered him [with intent that he fall asleep[14]]. [The Sages explain that Yael had relations with Sisra no less than seven times, until he was completely exhausted, as will be explained in the next Chapter.] Sisra asked Yael to stand guard in front of the tent, and if anyone comes and asks her if any man is in the tent, she should say that it is empty.

Yael kills Sisra: Yael the wife of Chaver took the peg of the tent and placed the chisel in her hand, and she approached Sisra cautiously and discreetly. She went ahead and hammered the peg into his face, by his side, and he fell to the ground dead. [She hammered the peg through his entire head, from one ear through the other, until it penetrated the ground.[15]] Since he was exhausted and sleeping, he died right away.[16]

Barak finds Sisra dead: Barak was chasing Sisra and Yael went out to greet him and said to him, that he should follow her, and she will show him the person he is searching for. He entered her tent and saw Sisra dead in a fallen position with the peg through his skull.

Yavin the king of Canaan is decimated:

G-d subdued on that day Yavin the king of Canaan, before the Jewish people. The hand of the Jewish people was strong upon Yavin the king of Canaan until he was annihilated.

Chapter 5: The song of Devorah

The song-Introduction:

Devorah, and Barak the son of Avinoam, sang a song on that day [which caused all the sins of the Jewish people to be forgiven, and begin a new page in their relationship with G-d[17]].

G-d took vengeance on behalf of the Jewish people, when his people stepped up and repented, and we will now bless G-d for doing so.

Hear oh kings, listen to a song, I am to G-d and I will sing and praise G-d, the G-d of Israel.

The leave of Sinai: Upon G-d leaving Seir [i.e. Har Sinai[18]], and walking through the field of Edom, the earth shook, and the heavens and clouds dropped rain [of resurrection[19]]. Mountains shed water before G-d, which is Sinai.

The state of the nation in the times of Yael:

In the days of Shamgar Ben Anas, and Yael [who was also a Judge in those days[20]], the Jewish people feared traveling by road [due to potential attacks by their enemies] and rather traveled through back windy paths. They feared living in open cities, and dwelled in fortified cities, due to fear of attack by their enemies. This was all until Devorah became a mother onto Israel. [These words were said by Devorah herself, and being viewed as a tinge of haughtiness, G-d punished her by removing Ruach Hakodesh from her.[21]] This need to wage war against their enemies was all due to the sins of idolatry of the Jewish people, and they therefore had to galvanize an army of 40,000 soldiers.

The love of the Sages and the talk of the miracle:

My heart [i.e. love] goes to the legislatures of Israel [i.e. the Sages] who devote themselves to the Jewish people. The riders of white mules are dignitaries who sit in judgement of the Jewish people, while the simple man walk and talk with their friends of the miracles of Hashem. The voice of the archers can be found amongst the water drawers, and there they talk of the greatness of G-d and what He did for the Jewish people.

Wake up Devorah, wake up and sing praise. Wake up Barak and capture captives, the son of Avinoam. Then Hashem gave us the Jewish people sovereignty over the gentile nations.

The tribes who joined the war and those who did not:

Soldiers from the tribe of Ephraim waged war against Amalek. Afterwards would come Binyamin and finish them off. From Machir came generals and conquerors. From Zevulun came the Sofrim, and Sages. From Yissachar came the aristocrats, the leaders of the Sanhedrin. They worked with Devorah to strengthen the nations Torah observance. The rest of the tribe of Yissachar was obedient to Barak, and listened to all his instructions regarding the war that was waged. The tribe of Reuvein however, was divided in their hearts, and they acted with contempt, waiting to see who would win the battle prior to joining. Gilad dwelled across the Jordon [and thus did not join the war[22]]. Dan prepared ships with all their belongings to escape the land. Asher sat at the beach and guarded the seaport from the enemies. Zevulun gave up their lives to fight in the battle. Likewise, Naftali joined and fought in the battle. [The tribes who stayed away from joining the battle should be ashamed, as] Other kings joined the battle to help Sisra without any monetary incentive, and they fought in Tanach and Meiy Megido.

The miracles of the battle:

From heaven the stars fought against Sisra [by heating up the ground[23]], and from the pathways they fought with Sisra. The river of Kishon swept them away [as when the soldiers of Sisra went to wash in the river, the river swept them away[24]]. The hooves of the horses of Sisra fell off after they fled.

Those deserving of praise and scorn:

The people of Meiroz: Cursed be the people of Meiroz, says [Barak[25]] the messenger of G-d, as they did not come to assist in the battle of Hashem.

Yael: Blessed be the woman Yael, the wife of Chever the Keini. Of the women of the tent [i.e. Sarah[26]] let her be blessed. He [i.e. Sichon] asked for water and she gave him milk in a large water bucket. She gave him butter. She sent her hand to the peg in order to kill Sisra who was tired. She obliterated his head and chopped it off his body, puncturing through his skull. Between her legs he prostrated and fell and lied, and there he remained in a disrespectful state. [The Sages[27] explain that this verse hints to the fact that Yael had relations with Sisra in attempt to weaken him and make him fall asleep, thus giving her ability to kill him. She had relations with him no less than seven times, until he was completely exhausted.[28] The Kabbalists[29] explain that Yael did so in order to retrieve the sparks of holiness that were retained in the soul of Sisra, and thus continued having relations until all the sparks were released. As a result of these relations with Sisra, Rebbe Akiva was born.[30] Yael became pregnant from the third intercourse and from this descendent came Rebbe Akiva.[31]]

The mother of Sisra: The mother of Sisra gazed from the window and cried, waiting for her son’s chariot to return. The wisdom of her ministers answered her that certainly Sisra is busy gathering booty, busy giving at least two beautiful Jewish women to be raped by each of his soldiers, and she accepted their explanation as accurate.

The final word: So, shall be eradicated all the enemies of G-d, and the sun in its might will rise for those who love G-d.

The land rests from war:

After the battle with Sisra the land rested for 40 years.

[1] So is followed by Ashkenazi and Chabad communities. However, Sefaradi communities begin reading from 5:1

[2] See Metzudos David 4:1 and Radak 4:1

[3] See Radak 4:2 and Metzudos David 4:2

[4] Radak 4:4

[5] Rashi 4:4

[6] Rashi 4:5

[7] Rashi 4:5

[8] Metzudos David 4:6

[9] Metzudos David 4:8

[10] Ralbag 4:8

[11] See Metzudos David 4:9; Radak 4:9

[12] Radak 4:11; Metzudos David 4:11

[13] See Radak 4:18

[14] Rashi 4:19

[15] Pirush Rav Yeshaya 4:21

[16] See Metzudos David 4:21

[17] Rashi 6:1; Midrash Tehillim 18:6

[18] Rashi 5:3

[19] Rashi 5:3

[20] Rashi 5:6

[21] Pesachim 66b; Rashi 5:12

[22] Rashi 5:17; However. See Radak and other Mefarshim ibid who argue and say that they did come to war

[23] See Rashi 5:22

[24] See Radak 5:20

[25] Rashi 5:23

[26] Rashi 5:24

[27] Rebbe Yochanan in Yevamos 103a; Nazir 23b; Yalkut Shimoni Shoftim 5:27See Radak 5:27; Rashi on Yevamos ibid

[28] This is hinted to in the fact the verse writes the words “falling” seven times

[29] Baalei Bris Avraham 126 in paragraph written by Rav Zecharya Azulai, the grandson of the author Rav Avraham Azulai, in name of Arizal; Meam Loez Shoftim 5:27

[30] It is unclear from the above source if the intent is that Yael became pregnant from Sisra and Rebbe Akiva was eventually born from her descendants, or if it contains a spiritual connotation, that the soul of Rebbe Akiva became freed with these relations with Sisra, and was thus eventually born as a Jew, but not that Yael actually conceived. However, see next from the Rameh Mipuno that she became pregnant from him.

[31] Rameh Mipuno in Asara Mamaros Mamar Chikur Din 5:11