Deborah
A prophetess who judged Israel from under a palm tree, and went to war when no one else would.
Old Testament · c. 12th century BC · Judges · Also known as Deborah the prophetess, A mother in Israel
About Deborah
Deborah was a prophetess who judged Israel. People came to her for decisions as she sat under the palm tree of Deborah in the hill country of Ephraim. When Israel was oppressed by Jabin, a Canaanite king whose commander Sisera had nine hundred iron chariots, Deborah summoned Barak to lead the army. He would only go if she went with him, and she did, telling him the honour would go to a woman. Israel won, and Deborah and Barak sang a song of victory. The land had rest for forty years.
The judges were leaders God raised up between Joshua and the kings. Deborah is the only judge described as a prophetess and the only woman among them. Iron chariots were the most feared weapons of the time, which makes the victory striking.
The story
Under the palm tree
"Deborah, a prophetess… judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment."
Judges 4:1-5
If thou wilt go with me
Deborah called Barak and gave him God’s command to gather ten thousand men. Barak answered, "If thou wilt go with me, then I will go." "I will surely go with thee," she said, "notwithstanding… the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman."
Judges 4:6-10
Up; for this is the day
On Mount Tabor, Deborah said to Barak, "Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee?" Barak charged down, and "the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots."
Judges 4:12-16
A mother in Israel
Deborah and Barak sang a song of victory: "Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD." She sang that Israel’s villages had been empty "until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel." "And the land had rest forty years."
Judges 5:1-7; 5:31
Key moments
- Judges Israel: Under the palm tree of Deborah. (Judges 4:5)
- Summons Barak: "I will surely go with thee." (Judges 4:9)
- Victory at Mount Tabor: "Is not the LORD gone out before thee?" (Judges 4:14)
- The Song of Deborah: "A mother in Israel." (Judges 5:7)
- Forty years of rest: Peace in the land. (Judges 5:31)
Questions about Deborah
In meetBible these answers are given in Deborah’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
What did a judge do?
In the time before Israel had kings, God raised up judges to lead and rescue the people. Scripture says I "judged Israel at that time," and that "the children of Israel came up to her for judgment" under the palm tree. I was also a prophetess, bringing God’s word, which is how I came to send for Barak.
Why wouldn’t Barak go without you?
He said, "If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go." Scripture doesn’t give his reasons. I agreed, but told him the journey would not be for his honour, "for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." Hebrews later names Barak among people of faith.
Connected people
- Gideon: Later judge
- Samson: Later judge
- Miriam: Fellow prophetess
- Barak: Army commander
- Jael: Defeated Sisera
- Sisera: Enemy commander
Read it yourself
Start with Judges 4–5.