THE SONG OF DEBORAH AND BARAK

The Song of Deborah and Barak. Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,
“For the leaders who took the lead in Israel, For the people who volunteered [for battle], Bless the LORD!
“Hear, O kings; listen, O rulers! I will sing to the LORD, I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.

ISRAEL’S UNFAITHFULNESS

Israel’s Unfaithfulness. Then the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and worshiped and served the Baals,
and they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods from the gods of the peoples who were around them, and they bowed down to them, and offended and provoked the LORD to anger.

FLAGGING IN THEIR GREAT TASK

Flagging in their great task. But [the tribe of] Manasseh did not take possession of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; so the Canaanites remained in that land.

THE CONTINUING CONQUEST OF CANAAN

The Continuing Conquest of Canaan. Now it came about after the death of Joshua, that the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob) asked the LORD, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”
And the LORD said, “Judah shall go up [first]; behold, I have given the land into his hand

THE COVENANT RENEWAL AT SHECHEM

Choose Whom You Will Serve. If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”