Judges 5:20

 Judges 5:20

They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

a. NLT: The stars fought from heaven. The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: From the heavens the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. ASV: From heaven fought the stars, From their courses they fought against Sisera. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Septuagint: The stars from heaven set themselves in array, they set themselves to fight with Sisera out of their paths.

1. “They fought from heaven…”

a. [They] fought [Strong: 3898 lâcham, law-kham'; a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction):—devour, eat, × ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).

b. from [Strong: 4480 min, min; or מִנִּי minnîy; or מִנֵּי minnêy; (constructive plural) (Isaiah 30:11); for H4482; properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses:—above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, × neither, × nor, (out) of, over, since, × then, through, × whether, with.]

c. heaven [Strong: 8064 shâmayim, shaw-mah'-yim; dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה shâmeh; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve):—air, × astrologer, heaven(-s).

2. “…the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.”

a. [the] stars [Strong: 3556 kôwkâb, ko-kawb'; probably from the same as H3522 (in the sense of rolling) or H3554 (in the sense of blazing); a star (as round or as shining); figuratively, a prince:—star(-gazer).

b. [in their] courses [Strong: 4546 mᵉçillâh, mes-il-law'; from H5549; a thoroughfare (as turnpiked), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase:—causeway, course, highway, path, terrace.]

c. fought [Strong: 3898 lâcham, law-kham'; a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction):—devour, eat, × ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).]

d. against [Strong: 5973 ʻim, eem; from H6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English):—accompanying, against, and, as (× long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-) to, with(-al).]

e. Sisera [Strong: 5516 Çîyçᵉrâʼ, see-ser-aw'; of uncertain derivation; Sisera, the name of a Canaanitish king and of one of the Nethinim:—Sisera.

1). Old Testament Series, Gordon Lindsay: There are a number of interesting things to be pointed out in these two chapters, which record the story of Deborah and Barak. The above Scripture certainly has reference to the war in the heavenlies. The tenth chapter of Daniel throws much light on this. In answer to Daniel's prayers, special reinforcements from God came against the powers of darkness and the kingdom of Persia, which they represented, and defeated them. So we can understand that certain evil powers sustained Sisera in his oppression of the children of Israel. Deborah’s prayer and intercession apparently brought “the stars of heaven” (the angels of God) against Jabin and Sisera, and the evil powers that ruled over that kingdom.

a). In the book of Job we can see the link between the stars and the angels of God, in this verse the angels are referred to as the “sons of God”.

b). Job 38:4-7 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

2). In the New Covenant we have authority given to us that the Old Testament saints did not have. The following two passages from Ephesians declares our authority.

a). Ephesians 1:15-23 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

b). Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;