שופטים, פרק ד׳, פסוק י׳

After arriving at the city of Kedesh, Barak rallies the warriors from the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali in preparation for battle. He gathers this massive force of ten thousand men by sounding a loud cry to assemble them [מצודת ציון]. Barak then actively leads the troops, guiding them up the slopes of Mount Tabor [רד"ק, מצודת דוד].

The manner in which these soldiers accompany Barak carries several layers of meaning. On a basic level, they follow closely in his footsteps, accepting him as their military commander [רש"י, מצודת דוד]. Yet, their presence is also a testament to his personal leadership; the men gather specifically because of Barak and his merit, rather than because of Deborah [מלבי"ם]. Additionally, the fact that the men march on foot highlights a stark reality about the impending battle. The Israelites are entirely an infantry force, lacking horses and chariots. This detail emphasizes their severe military disadvantage as they prepare to face Sisera, who commands a formidable force of nine hundred iron chariots [מלבי"ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

True to her earlier promise, Deborah accompanies Barak and the army up the mountain [מלבי"ם]. This highly visible movement of the Israelite leaders and a ten-thousand-strong army ascending Mount Tabor is more than a simple tactical maneuver. It serves as a public declaration of rebellion against Jabin, the king of Canaan. By taking this bold step, they establish an undeniable reality of war, openly challenging Sisera and his army stationed in the valley below [אברבנאל].