And I will draw out Sisera: Deborah continues to give the message of the LORD. She is quoting words from the LORD. The pronoun I refers to Yahweh and not Deborah. Some languages will prefer indirect speech, saying “He says that he will draw out Sisera.” Draw out renders the same Hebrew verb translated “gather” in verse 4.6. Here it has a slightly different meaning: the LORD will draw out or “lure” the enemy troops into a place where they will be vulnerable. Contemporary English Version has “The LORD will trick Sisera into coming out,” but this rendering may have negative connotations in relation to the LORD. Translators can say “I will lead Sisera out” or “I will entice Sisera.” Good News Translation has “I will bring Sisera.”

The general of Jabin’s army refers to Sisera. The Hebrew word for general is the same one translated “commander” in verse 4.2. Translators should choose one word and use it consistently.

To meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops: The word meet does not occur in the Hebrew but is implicit in the text. This is not a casual meeting. The LORD purposely draws the enemy troops to a place where they can be defeated. By the river Kishon is the place where the battle will occur. The river Kishon runs through the Jezreel Valley toward the sea, entering the Mediterranean near Mount Carmel. Several versions speak of “the Wadi Kishon” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh; similarly Revised English Bible) or “the Torrent of Kishon” (New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible [Traduction œcuménique de la Bible]), which are other possible renderings for the Hebrew here. A “wadi” (nachal in Hebrew) is not a standing river, but a dry valley-like area that fills up when there are flash floods. These areas can be very dangerous, and till today people caught in these circumstances may die from drowning or being beaten by the water against the rocky sides. The text does not make this explicit, but it is possible that the very nature of this place may have played a role in the defeat of Sisera’s troops. Perhaps the iron-rimmed chariots could not maneuver well in such a muddy and wet place. In some areas of the world, such as on coral atolls or in some desert areas, rivers may not be known, in which case the translator might say “place where there is a lot of water.”

With his chariots and his troops refers to Sisera’s chariots and fighting men. For chariots see verse 1.19. Chariots may refer here to the soldiers driving the chariots, not just the vehicles themselves.

And I will give him into your hand is the second part of the divine promise, the first being that the LORD will bring Sisera out to do battle with Barak. Once again, the pronoun I refers to the LORD, who promises to give Barak victory over the Israelites’ enemies. The key term hand is used once more. For the idiomatic expression here, see the comments on verse 1.2 and verse 1.4.

A translation example for this verse is:

• I will bring [or, draw] Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, out to the Kishon River to fight with you, along with his chariots and foot soldiers. But I will give you victory over him.’ ”

If indirect speech is needed, the following model may be helpful:

• He said that he would lure the head general of King Jabin’s army, Sisera, into battle against you at the wadi of Kishon. He will come against you with chariots and troops, but the LORD will not allow him to defeat you. You will have the victory.”

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .