And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
The people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help, because their enemy had nine hundred iron chariots and had harshly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.
The Israelites finally called out to God for help after suffering under brutal oppression for two decades.
📚 Historical Context
In the time of the Judges, Israel repeatedly cycled through periods of disobedience to God, resulting in oppression by neighboring nations as a form of divine discipline. In this specific case, after turning away from God, the Israelites endured 20 years of severe rule by King Jabin of Canaan, whose army was strengthened by 900 iron chariots, making them a formidable force. This hardship led the people to cry out to the Lord for deliverance, setting the stage for God's intervention through leaders like Deborah.
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