Nine Hundred Chariots - Judges 4:3

In the book of Judges we learned how, “the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. 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”, and in chapter four and verse three of Judges, we learn how Jabin, “had nine hundred chariots of iron” where we read,

And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; 

and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

The verse reads, “And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron;” The writer began with the words, “and the children of Israel” which means “and the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “cried unto the LORD” or “summoned and called out for help to Jehovah who is the existing One and is the proper name for the One True God”: “for he had nine hundred chariots of iron” which means “because he, Jabin, possessed and owned nine hundred war wagons constructed with iron ore”. The writer shared how the offspring of “Israel” called out for help from Jehovah God because “Jabin” possessed “nine hundred” battle wagons or carts that were made with iron ore. 

The verse continues, “and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.” The writer added the words, “and twenty years” which means “and twenty annual sets of days” “he mightily oppressed” or “he, Jabin, strongly and forcefully squeezed, distressed and crushed” “the children of Israel” which means “the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. The writer shared how “Jabin” forcefully afflicted the offspring of “Israel” for a period of “twenty” annual sets of days. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how “Jabin” possessed powerful weapons of war, nine hundred war wagons made with iron, to keep the offspring of Israel afflicted for “twenty years”. “Israel” once again had forsaken Jehovah God, and when He gave them over to “Jabin”, they suffered for it. God wants to free people from sin and oppression, and this is accomplished when we receive His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross and raised from the dead after three days. As we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and accompany us regardless of our circumstances in the world. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20)

Next time we learn about, “Deborah, a prophetess”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".