Their task? It was not slight. In fact, according to Legends of the Jews, it was comparable to Joshua's entire conquest of Canaan! Now, you might remember Joshua. He took on the land of Canaan and defeated thirty-one kings. But here's the thing: he only defeated half of them. The other thirty-one were still out there, causing trouble. And guess who was leading them? The fearsome Sisera.

Ginzberg, in Legends of the Jews, tells us these unconquered kings amassed a staggering force. We're talking forty thousand armies, each with a hundred thousand warriors! Arrayed against Deborah and Barak. Talk about David facing Goliath! So how did they stand a chance?

Well, like so many stories in Jewish tradition, the answer is: with a little help from above. As the tale goes, God aided Israel with both water and fire.

The Kishon – that’s the river we’re talking about here – and “all the fiery hosts of heaven” joined the battle. Except for the star Meros, that is. The Kishon, it turns out, had a long-standing appointment to play a crucial role in Sisera's downfall. But how does a river get involved in divine promises, you ask?

This is where it gets really interesting. The story goes that when the Egyptians were drowning in the Red Sea, God commanded the Angel of the Sea to cast their corpses onto the land. Why? So the Israelites could see the destruction of their enemies and wouldn't later doubt that the Egyptians had truly perished.

But the Angel of the Sea wasn't thrilled. He complained about having to give up a "gift," as we learn from Ginzberg. So, God promised compensation. The Kishon was offered as security, pledging to deliver half as many bodies again as the Angel of the Sea was giving up at the Red Sea. A divine IOU, if you will!

So, when Sisera's troops sought refuge from the scorching heavenly fire in the cool waters of the Kishon, God commanded the river to redeem its pledge. According to Legends of the Jews, the river rose up and swept the heathen down into the Sea. And the fishes in the Sea, well, they exclaimed, "And the truth of the Lord endureth forever!"

A pretty dramatic ending. The river Kishon, fulfilling its ancient promise, washing away the enemies of Israel. A reminder that even seemingly inanimate objects can play a part in the divine plan. A reminder that sometimes, the most unlikely allies can rise to meet the challenge. And maybe, just maybe, a hint that even when things seem impossible, the universe might just be on your side.