Deborah

Under the Palm Tree

The book of Judges says: “The LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them” (Judg 2:16). After Ehud died, “The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight” (Judg 4:1). Jabin king of Canaan “had nine hundred chariots of iron; and he mightily oppressed the children of Israel for twenty years” (Judg 4:3).

“Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, judged Israel at that time” (Judg 4:4). “She lived under Deborah’s palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment” (Judg 4:5).

Calling Barak

She sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam, and told him that the LORD had commanded, “Go and lead the way to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun” (Judg 4:6), and had said, “I will deliver him into your hand” (Judg 4:7). Barak said, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go” (Judg 4:8). Deborah said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the journey that you take won’t be for your honor; for the LORD will sell Sisera into a woman’s hand” (Judg 4:9). Barak called the men together, “and Deborah went up with him” (Judg 4:10). These things are in Lesson 1.

The River Kishon

When Sisera heard that Barak had gone up to Mount Tabor, he “gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron” and came to the river Kishon (Judg 4:13). “Deborah said to Barak, ‘Go; for this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Hasn’t the LORD gone out before you?’” (Judg 4:14). Barak went down from Mount Tabor; “The LORD confused Sisera, all his chariots, and all his army, with the edge of the sword before Barak” (Judg 4:15).

Sisera fled on foot “to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite” (Judg 4:17), and there “he fainted and died” (Judg 4:21). Barak came after him, went into the tent, “and behold, Sisera lay dead” (Judg 4:22). “So God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel on that day” (Judg 4:23). These things are in Lesson 2.

Later generations remembered it. Speaking of the past, Samuel told Israel that the LORD “sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor” (1 Sam 12:9). In the Psalms, someone prays: “Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon” (Ps 83:9).

The Song

“Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day” (Judg 5:1). The song begins: “Because the leaders took the lead in Israel, because the people offered themselves willingly, be blessed, LORD!” (Judg 5:2). It sings, “I, even I, will sing to the LORD” (Judg 5:3); it sings of Deborah herself: “The rulers ceased in Israel. They ceased until I, Deborah, arose; Until I arose a mother in Israel” (Judg 5:7); and it sings, “Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song!” (Judg 5:12). The first part of this song is in Lesson 3.

The song ends: “So let all your enemies perish, LORD, but let those who love him be as the sun when it rises in its strength” (Judg 5:31). “Then the land had rest forty years” (Judg 5:31). This is where the book of Judges leaves Deborah.