Top 10 Facts about Prophetess Deborah

Top 10 Facts about Prophetess Deborah

Deborah the Prophetess. Photo by Gustave Doré- Wikimedia 

The Bible’s story of Deborah demonstrates that the Lord calls ordinary people to do extraordinary things that can only be accomplished by the Spirit. This Judges 4 and 5 Bible study looks at what we can learn from Deborah about calling and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Deborah, the Bible’s only female judge, thrived in many areas. She served ancient Israel as a prophet, judge, military leader, songwriter, and minstrel (Judges 4–5).

Deborah, the only woman judge, “used to sit under the palm tree…and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment” (Judges 4:5). Marc Chagall, a Russian-Jewish artist, depicts her in this stained glass window. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ADAGP, Paris, 1997.

1. Prophetess Deborah: the fourth judge of the Jewish people

The fourth judge who ruled over the Jewish people after Joshua’s death was a woman. One of the most famous of all time.

For twenty years, general Sisera oppressed the Jews. Sisera commanded a well-trained cavalry army. He also had iron chariots, which were the equivalent of “tanks” in those days.

The Jews suffered horribly under Sisera’s cruel rule and cried out to God in despair. God then sent Deborah the Prophetess to them. She was one of the seven female prophetesses mentioned in the Bible.

2. Prophetess Deborah was faithful to God

Deborah. Photo by: Guillaume Rouille. Wikimedia

Deborah lived in the Ephraim Mountains, between Ramah and Beth-El. Deborah remained faithful to God and His Torah even in the midst of sin and idolatry. She was wise and God-fearing, and people came to her for advice and assistance.

3. Court sessions with Prophetess Deborah

Deborah held court in the open air, beneath a palm tree. She warned the Jewish people there, where everyone could hear her, and urged them to repent and return to God. This great prophetess was held in high regard by the entire Jewish people.

4. Prophetess Deborah was married to Lapidoth

Deborah the Prophetess. Photo by Gustave Doré- Wikimedia 

Deborah was the wife of Lapidoth, which means “torch” in Hebrew.  He provided large wicks and oil for the lights of Shiloh’s sanctuary, which burned like a torch. This holy woman had a similar effect on everyone around her: she spread the light of Torah. 

She sat under a palm tree to demonstrate to the world that the Jewish people were all united and returning their gaze to God, just as the leaves of the palm turned upward, towards heaven.

5. Prophetess Deborah sent for Barak 

Victory of the Israelites and Deborah’s Canticle. Photo by Luca Giordano. Wikimedia

When Deborah felt she had helped the people return to God, she sent for Barak.   Barak was the most powerful man in Israel at the time. Deborah asked him to gather a ten thousand-man army. He was to attack the Canaanite oppressors with this army.

6. Deborah rebuked Barak for failing to lead

Not surprisingly, Deborah confronted Barak about his reservations: “I will surely go with you; however, there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman” (Judges 4:9).

Deborah’s prediction came true. Sisera’s army was routed by God before Barak, but it was a woman, Jael, who eventually defeated the enemy commander (Judges 4:17–22). Barak should not have insisted on Deborah accompanying him, but should have taken the initiative himself.

7. Prophetess Deborah accompanied Barak to war

Barak refused to take on this task alone. He knew very well that only the help of God and the inspiration of the prophetess Deborah could overcome the hopeless odds against Sisera’s iron chariots and cavalry.

Deborah agreed to accompany him, but she warned him that while he would win, the glory would go to a woman.

8. Prophesies of Prophetess Deborah came to pass

Deborah. Photo by: Guillaume Rouille- Wikimedia

When Sisera learned of Barak’s strategy, he led his massive army against the Jews. Initially, the well-trained and armored Canaanite troops had no trouble. But then God threw chaos into their ranks.

Rains muddied the battlefield, and the chariots became stuck. The mighty warriors of Sisera fled in all directions, terrified by the unexpected turn of events.

When Sisera realized he had been defeated, he jumped from his chariot and fled on foot. Seeking refuge, he came across the tent of Heber. Heber had been on good terms with Jabin and Sisera was only too happy to accept Jael’s invitation to stay in the house until the Jewish army passed.

Sisera fell into a deep sleep after Jael gave him food and drink. When Jael saw this, he decided to make Sisera pay for all of his atrocities against the Jewish people by driving a long nail, a tent-pin, through his temple, killing the despised oppressor.

Meanwhile, Barak had arrived at Heber’s house, hot on the trail of Sisera. “Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest,” Jael said as he came out to meet him. She then led Barak into the tent, where the cruel general was found dead.

Thus, Deborah’s prophecy came true: the greatest glory of the victory belonged to a woman.

9. Deborah had a victory hymn

Victory of the Israelites and Deborah’s Canticle. Photo by Luca Giordano. Wikimedia

The Song of Deborah, found in Judges 5:2–31, is a victory hymn sung by Deborah and Barak about the defeat of Canaanite opponents by some of Israel’s tribes. 

Though reading a victory hymn in the Hebrew Bible is not uncommon, the Song of Deborah stands out as unique in that it celebrates the military victory of two women: Deborah, the prophet, and Jael, the warrior. 

10. Deborah’s ministry was private and not public

Deborah would sit under the palm tree, and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. The country approached her in private. She did not teach God’s Word in public.

She, like Huldah and other prophetesses, is an example of a woman who was restricted to private and individual instruction. Even when Deborah summoned  Barak, she addressed him privately.