Sisera סִיסְרָא
Canaanite commander defeated by Deborah and Barak.
Biography
Sisera was the commander of the Canaanite army under King Jabin of Hazor, who oppressed the Israelites for twenty years during the time of the judges (Jdg.4.2-3). Deborah, a prophetess and judge of Israel, summoned Barak and instructed him to gather an army to fight against Sisera (Jdg.4.4-7). Barak agreed to go only if Deborah accompanied him, to which she consented but prophesied that the honor of the victory would go to a woman (Jdg.4.8-9). In the ensuing battle at Mount Tabor, the Lord routed Sisera's army, and Barak pursued them (Jdg.4.14-16). Sisera fled on foot and sought refuge in the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite (Jdg.4.17). Jael welcomed Sisera and gave him a drink, but while he slept, she drove a tent peg through his temple, killing him (Jdg.4.18-21). The victory song of Deborah and Barak celebrates the defeat of Sisera and the role of Jael in his demise (Jdg.5.24-31). The story of Sisera's defeat is also mentioned in 1Sa.12.9 as an example of God's deliverance of Israel from their oppressors and in Psalm 1Sa.83.9 as a prayer for God to defeat Israel's enemies as He did with Sisera. The account of Sisera's downfall highlights the power of God to deliver His people and the role of women in His plan.
In Scripture
3 biblical books ; 1 with study contentJudges 5 verses
- Judges 4:2
"Yahweh sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth of the Gentiles."
- Judges 4:7
"I will draw to you, to the river Kishon, Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into your hand.’ ”"
- Judges 4:9
"She said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the journey that you take won’t be for your honor; for Yahweh will sell Sisera into a woman’s hand.” Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh."
- Judges 4:12
"They told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to Mount Tabor."
- Judges 4:13
"Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles, to the river Kishon."
1 Samuel 1 verse
- 1 Samuel 12:9
"“But they forgot Yahweh their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them."
Psalms 1 verse
- Psalms 83:9
"Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon;"
Study Psalms →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | סִיסְרָא | H5516G |