The death of Sisera

THE DEATH OF SISERA

According to some scholars, the reference to Jabin in the narrative of Deborah’s victory is a later addition and that the original leader of the Canaanite coalition in Judges 4 and 5 was Sisera. However, Sisera is never called a king, nor does he have a specific city of his own. There is no city by the name of Harosheth-hagoiim in any extra-biblical sources and attempts to find its name in the Arabic toponymy of the Jezreel Valley have been futile. In fact, Harosheth-hagoiim is apparently identical with Galil-hagoiim (Isa 9:1 Heb. 8:23) and is to be derived from the root meaning “to plow.” Harosheth means “cultivated land” and refers to the rich farm area on the southern side of the Jezreel Valley; since the time of Thutmose III it had been known as royal domain, cultivated for the benefit of an overlord. It was Sisera’s job to protect the interests of his master, the king of Hazor, in this highly profitable center for agriculture. Harosheth-hagoiim of the prose account (Judg 4:2, 13, 16) is synonymous with “at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo” of the poetic version (Judg 5:19).

Article abstract from The Sacred Bridge