Who was Deborah in the Bible?
"Deborah was a prophet. She was the wife of Lappidoth. She was leading Israel at that time. Under the Palm Tree of Deborah she served the people as their judge. That place was between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites went up to her there. They came to have her decide cases for them. She settled matters between them" (Judges 4:4-5).
"Barak said to her, 'If you go with me, I’ll go. But if you don’t go with me, I won’t go'" (Judges 4:8).
"'All right,' Deborah said. 'I’ll go with you. But because of the way you are doing this, you won’t receive any honor. Instead, the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman' So Deborah went to Kedesh with Barak" (Judges 4:9).
Deborah was a judge of Israel. She was also a prophetess.Deborah is a unique woman in the Bible. She was a judge who led Israel and also a prophetess. God spoke to Deborah under a tree called “the Palm of Deborah” in Ephraim. This is where she would hold court and God would speak with her. Through God, Deborah was able to set her people free and defeat the king of Canaan.
Deborah was the only woman judge mentioned in the Bible. When Deborah was the judge of Israel, they were being held under the power of Jabin, king of Canaan. Israel was treated very badly by Canaan. It was extremely hard to live in Israel at this time and many people were afraid to leave their homes (Judges 5:6-7). God speaks to Deborah and tells her that Barak will lead Israel against the army of Jabin, known as Sisera. Barak says he will only go if Deborah comes with him (Judges 4:8).
Deborah agrees to go, but she says the victory will belong to woman and not to man (Judges 4:9). The Israelites went against the army of Sisera and God gave them victory. Israel won the battle and they were set free. The army was given into the hands of Deborah—a woman, just as she had prophesied. The story of Deborah shows us how God values women and how women are capable of great things.
