Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Kings came, they fought, the kings of Canaan fought. At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo, they took no plunder of silver. New Living Translation “The kings of Canaan came and fought, at Taanach near Megiddo’s springs, but they carried off no silver treasures. English Standard Version “The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. Berean Standard Bible Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver. Berean Literal Bible The kings came—they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; spoils of silver they did not take. King James Bible The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money. New King James Version “The kings came and fought, Then the kings of Canaan fought In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; They took no spoils of silver. New American Standard Bible “The kings came and fought; Then the kings of Canaan fought At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; They took no plunder in silver. NASB 1995 “The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; They took no plunder in silver. NASB 1977 “The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; They took no plunder in silver. Legacy Standard Bible “The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; They took no gain of silver. Amplified Bible “The kings came and fought; Then the kings of Canaan fought At Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. Spoils of silver they did not obtain. Berean Annotated Bible Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan (lowland) fought at Taanach (sandy) by the waters of Megiddo (place of crowds), but they took no plunder of silver. Christian Standard Bible Kings came and fought. Then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the Waters of Megiddo, but they did not plunder the silver. Holman Christian Standard Bible Kings came and fought. Then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no spoil of silver. American Standard Version The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan. In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo: They took no gain of money. Contemporary English Version Canaanite kings fought us at Taanach by the stream near Megiddo--but they couldn't rob us of our silver. English Revised Version The kings came and fought; then fought the kings of Canaan; in Taanach by the waters of Meggido: they took no gain of money. GOD'S WORD® Translation Kings came and fought. Then the kings of Canaan fought. They fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. But they didn't carry off any rich loot. Good News Translation At Taanach, by the stream of Megiddo, the kings came and fought; the kings of Canaan fought, but they took no silver away. International Standard Version "Kings came to fight, then battled the kings of Canaan at Taanach near the waters of Megiddo. They took no silver as the spoils of war. NET Bible Kings came, they fought; the kings of Canaan fought, at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no silver as plunder. New Heart English Bible The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. They took no plunder of silver. Webster's Bible Translation The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Tanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleKings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver. World English Bible “The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. They took no plunder of silver. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionKings came—they fought; Then kings of Canaan fought, "" In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; They did not take gain of money! Berean Literal Bible The kings came—they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; spoils of silver they did not take. Young's Literal Translation Kings came -- they fought; Then fought kings of Canaan, In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; Gain of money they took not! Smith's Literal Translation Kings came: they fought: Then fought the kings of Canaan, Tanach, upon the water of Megiddo: Plunder of silver took they not. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe kings came and fought, the kings of Chanaan fought in Thanach by the waters of Mageddo, and yet they took no spoils. Catholic Public Domain Version The kings came and fought; the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach, beside the waters of Megiddo. And yet they took no spoils. New American Bible The kings came and fought; then they fought, those kings of Canaan, At Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; no spoil of silver did they take. New Revised Standard Version “The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThe kings came and fought; then fought the kings of Canaan; they fought in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no goods nor money. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Kings came and they fought and then were gathered the Kings of Canaan in Tanak; they gathered by the waters of Magdo; possessions and money they did not take OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917The kings came, they fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan, In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; They took no gain of money. Brenton Septuagint Translation Kings set themselves in array, then the kings of Chanaan fought in Thanaach at the water of Mageddo; they took no gift of money. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Song of Deborah and Barak…18Zebulun was a people who risked their lives; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the battlefield. 19Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver. 20From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera.… Cross References Kings came and fought; Joshua 10:5 So the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon—joined forces and advanced with all their armies. They camped before Gibeon and made war against it. Psalm 48:4-5 For behold, the kings assembled; they all advanced together. / They saw and were astounded; they fled in terror. Revelation 19:19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army. then the kings of Canaan fought Joshua 11:1-5 Now when Jabin king of Hazor heard about these things, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon; to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph; / to the kings of the north in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Chinnereth, in the foothills, and in Naphoth-dor to the west; / to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mizpah. … Joshua 12:7-8 And these are the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered beyond the Jordan to the west, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir (according to the allotments to the tribes of Israel, Joshua gave them as an inheritance / the hill country, the foothills, the Arabah, the slopes, the wilderness, and the Negev—the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites): Judges 4:2-3 So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his forces was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. / Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, because Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and he had harshly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, Joshua 12:21 the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one; Joshua 17:11 Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh was assigned Beth-shean, Ibleam, Dor (that is, Naphath), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, each with their surrounding settlements. 1 Kings 4:12 Baana son of Ahilud in Taanach, in Megiddo, and in all of Beth-shean next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah and on past Jokmeam; but they took no plunder of silver. 1 Samuel 30:19-20 Nothing was missing, young or old, son or daughter, or any of the plunder the Amalekites had taken. David brought everything back. / And he took all the flocks and herds, which his men drove ahead of the other livestock, calling out, “This is David’s plunder!” Exodus 12:35-36 Furthermore, the Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing. / And the LORD gave the people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that they granted their request. In this way they plundered the Egyptians. Esther 8:11 By these letters the king permitted the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province hostile to them, including women and children, and to plunder their possessions. Revelation 16:14-16 These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. / “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.” / And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. Psalm 83:9-10 Do to them as You did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon, / who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground. 1 Samuel 12:9-11 But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them. / Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, that we may serve You.’ / So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely. Joshua 10:12-14 On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” / So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? “So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.” / There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man, because the LORD fought for Israel. Treasury of Scripture The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money. kings Joshua 10:22-27 Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave… Joshua 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, Psalm 48:4-6 For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together… Taanach Judges 1:27 Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. 1 Kings 4:12 Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam: they took Judges 5:30 Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil? Genesis 14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, Genesis 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. Jump to Previous Canaan Carried Kings Megiddo Megid'do Money Plunder Profit Silver Spoils Taanach Ta'anach Tanach Warring WatersJump to Next Canaan Carried Kings Megiddo Megid'do Money Plunder Profit Silver Spoils Taanach Ta'anach Tanach Warring WatersJudges 5 1. The Song of Deborah and BarakKings came and fought; This phrase refers to the coalition of Canaanite kings who gathered to battle against Israel. In the ancient Near East, it was common for city-states to be ruled by kings who would form alliances for mutual defense or aggression. The gathering of these kings signifies the seriousness of the threat against Israel. This event is part of the larger narrative of the Judges, where God raises leaders to deliver Israel from oppression. The kings' assembly can be seen as a fulfillment of God's promise to give Israel victory over their enemies, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:24. then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver. Persons / Places / Events 1. Kings of CanaanThese were the rulers of the various city-states in the region of Canaan. They banded together to fight against Israel. 2. Taanach A city in the territory of Issachar, near the Kishon River. It was a strategic location for battles in ancient times. 3. Waters of Megiddo This refers to the area around the Kishon River near the city of Megiddo, a significant site for many historical battles. 4. Deborah and Barak Though not mentioned directly in this verse, they are the leaders of Israel who led the battle against the Canaanite kings, as described in the surrounding chapters. 5. The Battle This event is part of the larger account of Israel's deliverance from Canaanite oppression, highlighting God's intervention on behalf of His people. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in BattleThe victory at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo underscores God's control over the affairs of nations and battles. Believers can trust in God's ultimate authority and power in their own struggles. The Futility of Earthly Power The kings of Canaan, despite their might and numbers, could not prevail against God's chosen people. This teaches that earthly power and wealth are futile without God's blessing. The Importance of Faithful Leadership Deborah and Barak's leadership was crucial in rallying Israel to victory. Godly leadership is vital in guiding communities and nations in righteousness. Celebrating God's Victories The Song of Deborah is a reminder to celebrate and remember God's past victories in our lives, fostering a spirit of gratitude and faith. God's Provision and Protection The lack of plunder taken by the Canaanite kings highlights God's provision and protection over His people, assuring believers of His care in times of need. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Judges 5:19?2. How does Judges 5:19 illustrate God's power in battles against His enemies? 3. What lessons on faith can we learn from the kings' defeat in Judges 5:19? 4. How does Judges 5:19 connect to God's deliverance in Exodus 14:14? 5. In what ways can we trust God in our personal battles today? 6. How can we apply the victory in Judges 5:19 to spiritual warfare? 7. What historical evidence supports the battle described in Judges 5:19? 8. How does Judges 5:19 reflect God's role in Israel's victories? 9. Why is the battle at Taanach significant in biblical history? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 5? 11. What is the identity of the Canaanites? 12. Judges 2:16-19 speaks of God raising up judges to deliver Israel, but what historical or archaeological data support the existence of these specific judges? 13. In Judges 1:27-28, why did the Israelites coexist with the Canaanites instead of fully driving them out, contradicting earlier commands for total conquest? 14. What is the chronological order of events in the Bible? What Does Judges 5:19 Mean Kings came and fought• The song recalls how multiple rulers rallied for battle, answering Jabin’s summons (Judges 4:2, 13). • From a human viewpoint, a confederation of kings should have overwhelmed Israel, yet God’s people had already been promised victory (Judges 4:6-7). • Their combined strength highlights the magnitude of the deliverance; as Psalm 20:7 reminds, some trust in chariots and horses, “but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” then the kings of Canaan fought • The repetition stresses the size of the coalition and the fact that it was distinctly “Canaanite,” opposed to the covenant people (Judges 5:8). • It underlines that God’s judgment was falling on Canaanite power just as He had pledged centuries earlier (Genesis 15:16; Deuteronomy 7:1-2). • By specifying “kings of Canaan,” the song contrasts earthly authority with the heavenly King who truly rules (Psalm 47:7-8). at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo • Taanach and Megiddo sat along the Kishon River in the fertile Jezreel Valley (Joshua 17:11; Judges 4:16). • These strategic sites controlled major trade routes; battles there affected commerce and security (1 Kings 9:15; 2 Kings 23:29). • Holding the high ground near these waters, Sisera’s forces presumed a tactical edge—yet the Lord would turn the very terrain against them when the river swelled (Judges 5:20-21). but they took no plunder of silver • Ancient warfare was often financed by spoils; victors expected silver, livestock, and captives (Judges 5:30). • Instead, every Canaanite hope of gain evaporated. Sisera’s army was routed, and “not a man was left” (Judges 4:16). • The phrase underscores God’s total triumph: the enemy’s treasure stayed untouched, while Israel gained freedom. Compare Psalm 33:16-18—victory comes from the Lord, not numbers or wealth. summary Judges 5:19 celebrates the Lord’s decisive, literal intervention. An impressive alliance of Canaanite kings gathered at prime battlegrounds, confident of victory and plunder. Yet their might could not stand against God’s purpose. The song reminds believers that no human power, resource, or strategy can thwart the Lord who fights for His people and fulfills His promises. (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 Lejj-n, the ancient Megiddo, which in rainy seasons rapidly turns the plain into a morass (Thomson's Land and Book. ch. 29). They took no gain of money.--Literally, fragment of silver they did not take. They had doubtless hoped, if not for much actual spoil, at least for ransom from the numerous captives which they expected to win, or from the gain derived by selling them into slavery. Verse 19. - The kings came and fought (cf. Joshua 11:1, 2, 5). They took no gain of money. These words may mean,(1) they did not stop to plunder, they were intent only upon slaughter; or, (2) they took no ransom for their enemies' lives; or, (3) they got nothing by their fighting, for they were all killed themselves. Hebrew Kingsמְלָכִים֙ (mə·lā·ḵîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4428: A king came בָּ֤אוּ (bā·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go and fought; נִלְחָ֔מוּ (nil·ḥā·mū) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle then אָ֤ז (’āz) Adverb Strong's 227: At that time, place, therefore the kings מַלְכֵ֣י (mal·ḵê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 4428: A king of Canaan כְנַ֔עַן (ḵə·na·‘an) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3667: Canaan -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their land West of the Jordan fought נִלְחֲמוּ֙ (nil·ḥă·mū) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle at Taanach בְּתַעְנַ֖ךְ (bə·ṯa‘·naḵ) Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 8590: Taanach -- a Canaanite city assigned to Manasseh by עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the waters מֵ֣י (mê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen of Megiddo, מְגִדּ֑וֹ (mə·ḡid·dōw) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4023: Megiddo -- a tower but they took לָקָֽחוּ׃ (lā·qā·ḥū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3947: To take no לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no plunder בֶּ֥צַע (be·ṣa‘) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1215: Gain made by violence, unjust gain, profit of silver. כֶּ֖סֶף (ke·sep̄) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3701: Silver, money Links Judges 5:19 NIVJudges 5:19 NLT Judges 5:19 ESV Judges 5:19 NASB Judges 5:19 KJV Judges 5:19 BibleApps.com Judges 5:19 Biblia Paralela Judges 5:19 Chinese Bible Judges 5:19 French Bible Judges 5:19 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 5:19 The kings came and fought then (Jd Judg. 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