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| − | There are two prominent people named '''Deborah''' in the Bible. |
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| + | |toggle=1 |
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| + | |about=The Judge of [[Israel]] |
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| + | |lookingfor=The [[Deborah (Nurse)|Nurse]] |
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| + | }}{{Infobox Person|name = Deborah|Spouse(s) = Lappidoth|Occupation = Judge of Israel|Nationality = *[[Israelite]] |
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| + | **Ephraimite|Race=[[Semite]]|image = Deborah Praises Jael.jpg|caption1 = Deborah, Gustave Doré's illustrations for La Grande Bible de Tours (1865)}} |
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| + | '''Deborah''' was the fourth Judge of [[Israel]] and the first female leader of Israel. She was the wife of Lappidoth and a [[prophet|prophetess.]] She followed after the leadership tradition of [[Moses]]'s [[Jethro|father-in-law]] and perhaps Judges before her, hearing cases from her home under a prominent palm tree known by her name.<ref>Judges 4:4-5</ref> |
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| + | Deborah was raised by [[God]], when the [[Canaan (Land)|Canaanite]] King, [[Jabin (Judges)|Jabin]] ruled from [[Hazor]]. When Deborah asked Israel's military commander, Barak, to fight Jabin's forces lead by [[Sisera]], he refused unless she would accompany him. Deborah accompanied the army, but prophesied to Barak that the honor of conquering Sisera (King Jabin's general) would go to a woman instead of him.<ref>Judges 4:6-9</ref> |
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| − | The first Deborah lived about 4000 years ago. She was Rebekah's nurse. Deborah traveled with Rebekah when she left home to become Isaac's wife. She probably spent her years caring for their sons, Jacob and Esau. When she died, "she was buried under the oak below Bethel, and so it was called Allonbacuth".<ref>Gen. 35:8</ref> Allonbacuth means "oak of weeping" in Hebrew. |
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| + | == Biography == |
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| − | The other Deborah was a Judge of Israel who lived about 3000 years ago, during a time when the nation was ruled by judges instead of kings. |
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| + | === Early life === |
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| − | She was the only female Judge of Israel. She was also a prophet, and the wife of Lappidoth. She held court in Ephraim in a place called "Deborah's Palm Tree," and the Israelites came to her to decide their disputes. |
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| + | Deborah's early family circumstances including birth are relatively unknown. The only thing that is known about Deborah's birth is that was she was a member of the [[Tribe of Ephraim]].<ref>Judges 4:5, 5:14</ref> Deborah was wed to Lappidoth and she lived out her house in the countryside of Ephraim, between [[Ramah]] and [[Bethel]]. |
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| + | Deborah was a prophetess and perhaps because of her prophetic gifts God raised her to become the leader of Israel, a Judge.<ref>Judges 4:4</ref> She became Judge while Canaan (as an alliance of city-states, being dominated by Hazor) had rule over Israel. She would rule judicial cases reaching a national level, under a palm tree at her home. The palm tree became so well known it was eponymous; being called the "palm of Deborah". |
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| − | She called upon the warrior, Barak, and through a message from Yahweh told him to mobilize 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun to fight the army of king Jabin of Hazor in Canaan. Barak agrees to go to battle, but only if Deborah comes with him. Deborah accompanies the army, but warns Barak that the honor of conquering Sisera (King Jabin's general) will go to a woman instead of him. |
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| + | === Battle with Canaan === |
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| − | Sisera marched his entire army, including 900 iron chariots to the Kishon River. Deborah told Barak "Now is the time for action! The Lord leads on! He has already delivered Sisera into your hand." Barak leads his army down the slopes of Mount Tabor and defeats the enemy. Sisera, who escaped the slaughter by the Israelites, is killed by Jael, a woman, who drives a peg through his head while he is sleeping. This fulfills Deborah's prophecy that Sisera would fall to a woman. |
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| + | After Israel had been subjugated under Canaan's rule for twenty years, God commanded Barak, possibly through Deborah, to assembly Israel's army. Deborah confronts Barak about this, when he had not gone through with preparing the military. It is likely that Deborah was the one who relayed the original order from God to Barak because Barak is never described as a prophet. This could explain Deborah's familiarity with God's command.<ref>Judges 4:6-7</ref> |
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| + | In response, Barak said he would not go into battle unless Deborah accompanied him. Deborah reluctantly agreed, but predicted the glory of battle would belong to a woman.<ref>Judges 4:8-9</ref> |
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| − | Deborah and Barak then sing a victory song in Judges, chapter 5. It is believed that Deborah herself wrote the song. After that battle there was peace in the land for 40 years. |
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| + | Deborah is [[Book of Judges|mentioned]] once more in the battle account leading Barak to begin the battle against the army of Sisera.<ref>Judges 4:14</ref> Deborah also led the leaders of the forces of [[Tribe of Issachar|Issachar]] to the battle site.<ref>Judges 5:15</ref> |
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| − | The name Deborah means bee. |
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| + | === Battle Celebration === |
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| − | ==References== |
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| + | After Israel defeated the Canaanites Deborah broke out into song. |
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| − | {{Reflist}} |
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| + | == Verses == |
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| + | <references /> |
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[[Category:Old Testament People]] |
[[Category:Old Testament People]] |
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| − | [[Category:Judges |
+ | [[Category:Judges]] |
| + | [[Category:People]] |
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| + | [[Category:Women]] |
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| + | [[Category:Old Testament Women]] |
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| + | [[Category:Persons]] |
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| + | [[Category:Israelites]] |
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| + | [[Category:Hebrews]] |
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| + | [[Category:Old Testament]] |
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| + | [[Category:Leaders of Israel]] |
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Revision as of 14:16, 28 July 2020
Deborah was the fourth Judge of Israel and the first female leader of Israel. She was the wife of Lappidoth and a prophetess. She followed after the leadership tradition of Moses's father-in-law and perhaps Judges before her, hearing cases from her home under a prominent palm tree known by her name.[1]
Deborah was raised by God, when the Canaanite King, Jabin ruled from Hazor. When Deborah asked Israel's military commander, Barak, to fight Jabin's forces lead by Sisera, he refused unless she would accompany him. Deborah accompanied the army, but prophesied to Barak that the honor of conquering Sisera (King Jabin's general) would go to a woman instead of him.[2]
Biography
Early life
Deborah's early family circumstances including birth are relatively unknown. The only thing that is known about Deborah's birth is that was she was a member of the Tribe of Ephraim.[3] Deborah was wed to Lappidoth and she lived out her house in the countryside of Ephraim, between Ramah and Bethel.
Deborah was a prophetess and perhaps because of her prophetic gifts God raised her to become the leader of Israel, a Judge.[4] She became Judge while Canaan (as an alliance of city-states, being dominated by Hazor) had rule over Israel. She would rule judicial cases reaching a national level, under a palm tree at her home. The palm tree became so well known it was eponymous; being called the "palm of Deborah".
Battle with Canaan
After Israel had been subjugated under Canaan's rule for twenty years, God commanded Barak, possibly through Deborah, to assembly Israel's army. Deborah confronts Barak about this, when he had not gone through with preparing the military. It is likely that Deborah was the one who relayed the original order from God to Barak because Barak is never described as a prophet. This could explain Deborah's familiarity with God's command.[5]
In response, Barak said he would not go into battle unless Deborah accompanied him. Deborah reluctantly agreed, but predicted the glory of battle would belong to a woman.[6]
Deborah is mentioned once more in the battle account leading Barak to begin the battle against the army of Sisera.[7] Deborah also led the leaders of the forces of Issachar to the battle site.[8]
Battle Celebration
After Israel defeated the Canaanites Deborah broke out into song.