Judges 5:19-21
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While the battle raged, the kings' primary motivation wasn't fighting for freedom, but for plunder, as they "got no spoils of silver" and their hopes for wealth were utterly dashed. This wasn't just a military defeat, but a financial one for those who came seeking gain.
“The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. The torrent Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse describes the actual battle and its outcome, shifting the scene to the plains near Taanach and Megiddo, significant battlegrounds by the Kishon River. It highlights that Sisera wasn't alone, but supported by various Canaanite kings and their armies, who had anticipated a lucrative victory filled with plunder and spoils. However, their hopes were dashed as they were soundly defeated and went away empty-handed.
The verse mentions 'kings' joining the fray. Who were these rulers, and what does their presence tell us about the conflict?
This wasn't just one king's ambition at play. Verse 19 highlights a coalition: 'The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan...' This indicates that Sisera, Jabin's commander, wasn't alone. He was backed by a league of local Canaanite rulers, likely vying for regional dominance and control under Jabin's authority. This alliance made their military force formidable, a significant threat to the scattered Israelite tribes.
These weren't just minor chieftains; they were established rulers with their own territories and armies. Their involvement shows the widespread oppression the Israelites were facing and the strategic power the Canaanites wielded at that time. The mention of Taanach and Megiddo, important cities in the region, places the battle on a key strategic plain.
The battle was fierce, but the outcome was surprising: 'they got no spoils of silver.' What does this anti-climax reveal?
The Canaanite kings came with high expectations, but left with nothing. The phrase 'they got no spoils of silver' isn't just about a lack of loot; it speaks to a complete and utter disappointment of their motives.
These kings weren't fighting for ideology or even just territory in this instance. They were motivated by greed. They anticipated a swift victory over the Israelites, imagining vast amounts of silver, livestock, and slaves to enrich themselves. Their defeat wasn't just a military loss; it was a financial disaster, turning their lucrative plans into empty hands.
This outcome highlights God's direct intervention. He not only delivered His people from oppression but also thwarted the selfish desires of their enemies, showing that His victories are comprehensive, affecting both the physical and the material expectations of the opposition.
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Understand the original words
Kena'an · Hebrew Noun
The land west of the Jordan, historically associated with the enemies of Israel, characterized by idolatry and resistance to God's chosen people.
shamayim · Hebrew Noun
In a biblical context, 'heaven' refers to the realm where God dwells, the expanse of the sky, or the celestial sphere. It is the locus of divine authority and from where God governs human history.
kokabim · Hebrew Noun
Often representing the celestial bodies created by God, but in poetic/prophetic contexts, they can refer to heavenly hosts, angelic beings, or divine manifestations that execute God’s will upon the earth.
Sisera · Hebrew Proper Noun
A commander or leader of an army; in this specific context, it refers to the historical adversary of Israel mentioned in the narrative of Deborah and Barak.
Qishon · Hebrew Proper Noun
A seasonal riverbed or wadi in northern Israel, historically significant as a site of divine intervention in battle. It serves as a symbol of God's power over nature and human enemies.
This verse highlights a desperate battle for survival, not a lucrative campaign. The Canaanite kings, expecting to easily plunder the Israelites, instead met their doom by the waters of Megiddo, leaving empty-handed and defeated.
c. 12th century BC
Canaanite City-States Dominate
Following the Late Bronze Age collapse, Canaan breaks into numerous smaller kingdoms and city-states, some still retaining powerful rulers like Jabin of Hazor.
c. 12th century BC
Israelite Tribes Settle the Land
The Israelite tribes, having settled in Canaan after the Exodus, begin to experience periods of oppression from the native Canaanites.
c. 12th century BC
Jabin of Hazor Rises to Power
Jabin, a powerful Canaanite king ruling from Hazor, brutally oppresses the Israelites for twenty years, likely exacting heavy tribute and control.
c. 12th century BC
Sisera Gathers Canaanite Allies
Sisera, Jabin's military commander, assembles a large coalition of Canaanite kings and forces, including chariots, to subdue the Israelites.
c. 12th century BC— this verse
Battle at Taanach and Megiddo
The allied Canaanite forces under Sisera confront Israelite forces, likely led by Barak, in the fertile plains near Taanach and Megiddo by the Kishon River.
c. 12th century BC
Canaanite Defeat and Retreat
The Canaanites suffer a decisive defeat, with many perishing in the swollen Kishon River. Their hope for plunder and spoils is entirely dashed.
This passage describes a similar large confederation of kings gathering to fight Israel, highlighting the recurring pattern of nations uniting against God's people.
Exodus 15:9The song of Moses celebrated God's victory over Egypt, where the enemy 'divided the spoil' – here, the opposite occurs, emphasizing the completeness of Israel's triumph as the enemy gained nothing.
Judges 4:15This verse describes the Lord discomfiting Sisera and his chariots before Barak, directly preceding the poetic account in Judges 5 and showing the divine hand in the victory.
Psalm 83:9-11This psalm prays for God's intervention against nations who conspire against Israel, mirroring the coalition of kings mentioned in Judges 5:19 and asking for a similar decisive defeat.
jfbJudges 5:19: "The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money."
19-22. describes the scene of battle and the issue. It would seem (Jud 5:19) that Jabin was reinforced by the troops of other Canaanite princes. The battlefield was near Taanach (now Ta'annuk), on a tell or mound in the level plain of Megiddo (now Leijun), on its southwestern extremity, by the left bank of the Kishon.they took no gain of money—They obtained…
ellicottJudges 5:19: "The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money."
(19) The kings.— Comp. Joshua 11:1 . Jabin did not stand alone. In Taanach.—See Judges 1:27. The word means “sandy soil.” By the waters of Megiddo.—The affluents of the Kishon, or the swollen waves of the river itself. There is a copious spring at Lejjûn, the ancient Megiddo, which in rainy seasons rapidly turns the plain into a morass (Thomson’s Land and Bo…
While the battle raged, the kings' primary motivation wasn't fighting for freedom, but for plunder, as they "got no spoils of silver" and their hopes for wealth were utterly dashed. This wasn't just a military defeat, but a financial one for those who came seeking gain.
This verse describes the actual battle and its outcome, shifting the scene to the plains near Taanach and Megiddo, significant battlegrounds by the Kishon River. It highlights that Sisera wasn't alone, but supported by various Canaanite kings and their armies, who had anticipated a lucrative victory filled with plunder and spoils. However, their hopes were dashed as they were soundly defeated and went away empty-handed.
This verse describes the actual battle and its outcome, shifting the scene to the plains near Taanach and Megiddo, significant battlegrounds by the Kishon River. It highlights that Sisera wasn't alone, but supported by various Canaanite kings and their armies, who had anticipated a lucrative victory filled with plunder and spoils. However, their hopes were dashed as they were soundly defeated and went away empty-handed.
"“The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. The…" — While the battle raged, the kings' primary motivation wasn't fighting for freedom, but for plunder, as they "got no spoils of silver" and their hopes for wealth were utterly dashed. This wasn't just…
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Last reviewed October 2026
