In this disorganized state they would have been an easy prey to any strong enemy; and before long, an enemy came.  In the fertile plain of Esdraelon, which cuts across Palestine just north of the central highland, there was a group of Canaanite towns which the Hebrews had not as yet conquered.  These were organized into a kingdom by a warrior named Sisera, who at once began to reconquer those parts of the country which now belonged to the Hebrews.  It was a bitter time for the tribes that were settled around the Plain of Esdraelon.  Those villages which were perched on the mountain sides held out for a time, but the inhabitants dared not go down into the valleys.  They could not take their grain to the market.  The valley roads were all deserted except for bands of Sisera’s troopers.  Each year Sisera grew stronger, and more of the Hebrews submitted to him.  In a little while there would have been none left to call themselves Hebrews and to keep up the noble traditions and hopes of Moses and Abraham.

=A wise and patriotic woman.=—­If only the more distant tribes had come to the help of those that bordered on Sisera’s kingdom, if only all the Hebrews had stood together, they could easily have defended themselves.  But no one seemed to see this, or had faith enough to try to accomplish anything in this way “until Deborah arose.”  One day there came up through the sheepfolds of the Reubenites this remarkable woman whose name was Deborah.  “Come to the help of your brethren across the river,” she said, as she told her story.  “Come to the help of Jehovah, by helping his people.”

At first the Reubenites seemed greatly moved by Deborah’s words.  Certainly, they would come, whenever Deborah and her friends were ready.  So the brave woman was encouraged and went to other tribes, to all of them one after another.  But not everywhere was she successful.  Many said:  “Why should we go up and help your people?  Suppose Sisera wins, he will come and punish us.  We will stay here where we are safe.”  Even the Reubenites, whose first resolves had been so brave, changed their minds, and “stayed in their sheepfolds, listening to the pipings of the flocks.”

=The battle by the Kishon River.=—­After many weeks of tramping, however, Deborah was able to get a few of the tribes really organized.  Ephraim, Benjamin, Naphtali, Zebulun, Issachar, and some smaller clans all promised to send troops and did send them.  An army was gathered under a captain named Barak.  The Canaanites under Sisera came out to fight them, and the battle took place on the flat fields of the Plain of Esdraelon.  It looked like a victory for Sisera.  He had charioteers as well as foot soldiers—­troops of men in heavy war carts, from the axles of which extended sharp blades like scythes.