Deborah’s Leadership Roles and Qualities The fact that Deborah was a woman is clearly mentioned—the Hebrew word ishshah (“woman”) occurs twice in Judges 4:4 —but there is no hint in the text that her gender was in any way a problem. Consider this: water would have refreshed him, but she did not give him what he asked for. . Not only known for her wisdom, but Deborah was also known for her courage. God raised up Deborah to be judge after the people had been treated harshly by King Jabin of Hazor. When Deborah became judge, the Israelites had been subjugated for 20 years by Jabin, king of Canaan. Enter your email address to get our weekly email with fresh, exciting and thoughtful content that will enrich your inbox and your life. These rulers were called mishpat—"judges,"—an office that traced back to a time when Moses appointed assistants to help him resolve disputes among the Hebrews (Exodus 18). Barak is a "judge" in that sense. A prophetess named Deborah judged or made rulings for the people of Israel under a palm tree … Deborah is a respected woman in Israel and she is a prophetess. Instead of fully trusting God, Barak refused to go unless Deborah accompanied him to inspire the troops. Deborah, who became the judge after Ehud, called for a man named Barak to lead the Israelite army against the Sisera and the Canaanites. Deborah, a Judge, used to hold court while sitting beneath a palm tree. There was a dire need for her services.
Seizing her opportunity, Jael tiptoed into the tent and drove a tent peg through Sisera's head with a mallet. Many years ago, the original owner (who homesteaded the property) planted some water lilies along the shore. I do not think it is a coincidence that this seemingly minor detail is included in the story. Deborah was the wife of a man whose name was Lapidoth, which means "torches." There is no indication who Deborah's parents were, what kind of work Lapidot did, or whether they had any children. At her feet he sank, he fell, he lay; At her feet he sank, he fell; Deborah's aim was accomplished. Deborah is introduced in Judges 4:4 as “Now Deborah, a woman prophet, a woman of Lappidoth, she judged Israel...” Her story shows that she was an outstanding woman who served God’s people well. Deborah was one of the rulers of the Israelites prior to the monarchy period that began with Saul (circa 1047 BCE). 4 After Ehud’s death, the Israelites again did evil in the Lord ’s sight. But perhaps a misstep was that the Israelites did not become masters of the forge; they did not capture, copy, or customize the enemy’s technology. Reply, 2654 - 2694 ( Jewish year ) We are in 5779. This was the time when the Jewish people had not yet become united under one king, which came later, in the times of King Saul and King David. Deborah plays a crucial role in this battle. Deborah wanted to obey the Word of the Lord fully rather than live in fear of the enemy around her and as such was not actually seeking any leadership role but asked Barak to lead. She went along and they defeated Sisera’s army. It was something that God called her to do. Having received instruction from God, Deborah summoned an Israelite warrior named Barak. Reply, does anyone know more about her family other than from the tribe of Ephraim and husband of Lapidoth? Barak agreed to take 10,000 men with him to fight, but didn't want to go unless Deborah came with them. And this week we will talk about a woman named Deborah who became judge over her people Israel. Digging up Deborah: Recent Hebrew Bible Scholarship on Gender and the Contribution of Archaeology. Deborah begins by praising the men in Israel who consecrated themselves to the war of liberation: Then the people offer themselves willingly. Cautiously approaching the sleeping warrior, she drove a long nail, a tent-pin, through his temple, thus putting an end to the hated oppressor. Deborah didn’t tell Barak to lead, she lead him to do his job as a military general, she wasn’t giving him her job as judge of Israel. Judge Deborah was one of the rulers of the Hebrews (and the only female leader) in the Old Testament. Barak refused to undertake this task by himself, knowing well that only the help of G‑d and the inspiration of the prophetess Deborah could succeed in the hopeless odds against the iron chariots and cavalry of Sisera. The judge Gideon built on Deborah’s military foundation and led Zebulon, Naphtali, and other tribes against the Midianites and Amalekites (6:33-35). In the midst of the sin and idolatry, Deborah remained true to G‑d and His Torah. Judges Chapter 5 is known as the "Song of Deborah," a text that exults in her victory over the Canaanites. AmenShalom, Debra
Reply, My name is Deborrah and was told to read this story as only recently I've been told of my Jewish heritage and my name sake. There are mainly two ways in which the Judges … The minor judges are Shamagar, Tola, Jair, Ibzan, and Elon. Women do not touch the Torah whilst menstruating. Their practice was to seek guidance from God through prayer and meditation before making a ruling. One of the reasons she held court under a palm tree was to avoid seclusion indoors with unrelated men. The oppressors were defeated and the Jews were free again to live their own life in happiness. Her assignment was surely challenging, but Deborah did not allow it to daunt her. If not, how could one to whom G-d spoke be too unclean or unworthy to do so? Deborah was both a prophetess and ruler of the people of ancient Israel, the only woman among the twelve judges. During Deborah’s time the twelve tribes of Israel lived more or less independently, each one in his part of the country. She ruled about 1237BC—1198BC, she was also a prophetess. Our sages tell us, that at the advice of his wife he furnished large wicks and oil for the lights of the sanctuary of Shiloh, which burned like torches. The period in which Deborah lived is known as the period of the Judges, and she was in fact the judge in her time. 3 Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Deborah was the only woman Judge or Ruler of Israel. In chapter 4, you can check the story about her successful counterattack. The entire Jewish nation respected this great prophetess. A man named Sisera was the commander of King Jabin’s army. Did Deborah study Torah in order to render judgments? And this week we will talk about a woman named Deborah who became judge over her people Israel. Leader from 2654 until her death in 2694 (1067 BCE), For the haftarah of Beshalach, From the Teachings of the Rebbe. Judges 4, 5. Before her were Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar, the latter only for a short time. Reply, I think that "Meroz" was an accumulation of tribes who did 'not' come to the aid of Deborah and Barak. Deborah told Barak that God commanded him to lead an attack against the forces of Jabin king of Canaan and his military commander Sisera; the entire narrative is recounted in chapter 4. She was to send for a man named Barak in Naphtali and tell him to take ten thousand soldiers to Mount Tabor. Deborah was the leader. There was a dire need for her services. I’ve also learned that women were responsible for the maintenance of the tents in which they lived...my sister, Jael, knew how to handle the tent peg. All was not well, however. I think that refers to G-d. Reply, Deborah didn't actually speak to a star, but in her song of victory, she states, "'Curse you Meroz,' said the messenger of the Lord, 'curse you bitterly (you) inhabitants thereof,' because they came not to the aid of the Lord, to the aid of the Lord against the mighty." Facts about Deborah 1: the female judge. Reply, do not over look this little detail...
Jabin ruled in a city named Hazor. Reply, Question
Jael gave him food and drink and, exhausted from the battle, Sisera soon fell into a heavy slumber. Could it be that this custom developed long after her day? The commander of Jabin’s army was named Sisera, and he had 900 iron chariots – formidable weapons against Israel’s foot soldiers (Judges 4:3). how did deborah become a judge. Deborah is one of the heroic women of history. The Israelite warriors won the day, and General Sisera fled the battleground on foot. The Talmud in Moed Katan 16a cites two opinions as to the identity of Meroz. Barak refused to fight unless Deborah accompanied him. O my soul, tread them down with strength! Then the prophetess goes on to sing of G‑d's might in days of old; she describes Israel's plight under the oppression of the bands of Canaanites, when all travel on the highways was abandoned, and the people had no weapons with which to defend themselves. Judges 4:4-5 simply states: “Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. The Israelites were treated very cruelly by Sisera and his army, and Israel’s spirits were very low. Deborah followed Barak into battle, as did the others (Judges 4:10).
We can safely say that Deborah did not become a judge or a prophetess by her own choice. —Judges 4:4, 5. Deborah was a judge that mainly settled disputes " holding court under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim " (Judges 4:5). While it’s not entirely clear why Deborah is not listed in Hebrews 11, we must avoid reading too much into her absence. Deborah seems to have held her court under the palm tree of Deborah for a number of years, this may have been for more than thirty years. Deciding legal cases took so much of his time and energy, that Moses' father-in-law recommended that other judges be given authority to handle all but the most difficult cases. Deborah is assumed to be the author of Judges chapter five which contains a poem of unusual Hebrew beauty celebrating the victory God gave them that special day. She told Barak, commander of an army of Israel, that the Lord wanted him to fight an enemy named Sisera. This exchange between Barak and Deborah depicts the prevailing attitude in Israel during the period of the judges: “…everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25). Deborah became Judge at a time when Israel was experiencing a spiritual and moral decline, partly due to the loss of their national leaders, Moses and Joshua. Where in the bible did Deborah speak to the star
After the death of Ehud; Israel once again disobeyed until God raised up Deborah – a woman Judge. She is not really a "judge" in the military sense of the word, not a deliverer. It was then that G‑d sent them Deborah the Prophetess. Deborah's dwelling under the palm-tree (Judges iv. Her story is told in the Book of Judges, Chapters 4 and 5. 5) is explained in several ways. Her life is a wonderful illustration of the power that womanhood has to influence society for good. Her assignment was surely challenging, but Deborah did not allow it to daunt her. a woman.’ Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh” (Judges 4:9). Deborah lived in the mountainous region of Ephraim, between the towns of Bethel and Ramah. Reply. Same with victory being in the hands of a woman – Jaels gender isn’t the point, her willingness is. Deborah was both a prophetess and ruler of the people of ancient Israel, the only woman among the twelve judges. Of all the people the nation could consult for judgment in Israel, Deborah appears to be the one they preferred. There she would sit beneath a palm tree and serve the people as Jehovah directed. God then told him how to select these men. Judges 4:1-24 and 5:1-31. Arguably, Deborah first was recognized as a prophet, then as judge/leader, next in a military role (5:15), and finally as a songstress. Except for the words in Judges chapters 4 and 5 we read nothing more about Deborah in the Bible. Deborah was only one of four women designated as a prophet in the Hebrew Bible, and as such, she was said to transmit the word and the will of God. In the end Deborah praises the brave Jael for having with her own hands killed the worst of Israel's enemies. Barak said: "If you will go with me, I will go; if not I will not go" (Judges 4:8). Seeking a place to hide, he chanced upon the tent of Heber the Kenite, who was a descendant of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses. With this army he was to attack the Canaanite oppressors. Then she describes the terrible battle, and the wonderful miracles that helped Israel to victory: The brook Kishon swept them away, That ancient brook, the brook of Kishon. She was truly remarkable: a judge, a military strategist, a poet, and a prophet. Her duties included the leadership of Israel (executive After the victory, Barak and Deborah sang a hymn of praise to God found in Judges 5, called the Song of Deborah. Judges 17:6; 21:25 . . Thirsty, he asked for water, but she gave him milk and curds, a heavy meal that caused him to fall asleep. In contrast, she holds up the shining example of Zebulun and Naphtali who offered their lives on the battle-fields. —Judges 4:4, 5. The Canaanites had 900 chariots of iron and ruled over Israel for 20 years (Judges 4:2–3). The Israelites would come up to her to have their disputes settled.” What a woman, that Deborah! A prophetess named Deborah judged or made rulings for the people of Israel under a palm tree … Arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive. She ruled about 1237BC—1198BC, she was also a prophetess. She was wise and helped the people solve their problems. I will sing Praise unto the G‑d of Israel. She held court under the Palm Tree of Deborah in the hill country of Ephraim, deciding the people's disputes. . She has authored a number of books on faith and religion. There she would sit beneath a palm tree and serve the people as Jehovah directed. When Deborah felt that she had helped the people to return to G‑d, she sent for Barak, the son of Abinoam. The opening Judges 4:4–5 tells this much: This location, "between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim," places Deborah and her fellow Hebrews in an area controlled by King Jabin of Hazor, who had oppressed the Israelites for 20 years, according to the Bible. Sisera asked for sanctuary in the tent of Jael (or Yael), wife of the clan leader. The fourth of the judges who ruled over the Jewish people after the death of Joshua, was not a man, but a woman, one of the most famous of all times, the Prophetess Deborah. The enemies were Jabin, King of Canaan and his forces along with Sisera, Canaan’s military commander. A differing opinion is that Meroz is a star. The extraordinary beauty and charm of her poem make it next to the "Shiroh" (Song) of Moses, the greatest of all poetic songs of gratitude to G‑d, in our sacred literature. In the Bible, Deborah was the only female judge ever mentioned. This is very similar to our politically correct pluralistic culture that we live in today in America. At any rate, Barak was the most influential man in Israel then, and Deborah asked him to raise an army of ten thousand troops from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun, and gather them at the foot of mount Tabor, in the Plains of Esdrealon. She did not become a judge or prophetess of her own will.
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