Deborah

Biblical Account

Deborah appears in Judges 4–5. Judges 4:4 introduces her as "the wife of Lapidoth" and a prophetess, and states that she judged Israel at that time. The judges were leaders who guided and judged the people before Israel had a king. Deborah sat under "the palm tree of Deborah" between Ramah and Bethel in Mount Ephraim, and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment (Judges 4:5).

At that time Israel had been oppressed for twenty years by Jabin, a Canaanite king who reigned in Hazor. Jabin's commander, Sisera, had nine hundred chariots of iron (Judges 4:3). Deborah summoned Barak of Kedesh-naphtali and delivered God's command to gather an army at Mount Tabor. When Barak said he would go only if Deborah went with him, she replied that she would go, but that the honor of this undertaking would go not to Barak but to a woman (Judges 4:8–9). Israel defeated Sisera's army in battle near the river Kishon. Sisera fled on foot and hid in the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, where he died at her hand (Judges 4:21).

Judges 5 is the victory song that Deborah and Barak sang together. In this song Deborah calls herself "a mother in Israel" (Judges 5:7). The text records that after these events the land had rest for forty years (Judges 5:31).

Significance Within Scripture

Deborah is the only woman among the judges in the Book of Judges. She is portrayed as being involved in judging, prophesying, and directing warfare. The New Testament does not mention Deborah by name. However, Hebrews 11:32 lists Barak, who fought alongside her, among the people of faith. Genesis 35:8 mentions a Deborah who was the nurse of Rebekah; she is a different person from Deborah the judge.

Interpretations and Debates

• Female leadership: Deborah is frequently cited in discussions of the ordination of women. Those who support women's ordination see her as an example of God raising up a woman as a leader of the community and a proclaimer of His word. Those who oppose it regard her as an exceptional case specific to the period of the judges, or point to her entrusting military command to Barak, and argue that her example cannot be applied directly to questions of church office.
• Evaluation of Barak: In sermons in Korean churches, Barak is often portrayed as fearful. The text, however, records only that he asked her to accompany him and does not explain his motive. Hebrews lists him among the heroes of faith.
• Jael's act: Judges 5:24 pronounces a blessing on Jael. As a result, interpreters differ on how to evaluate the ethics of her killing a guest.
• Extrabiblical tradition: Some Jewish traditions identify Lapidoth, a name interpreted to mean "torches," with Barak. This interpretation is not found in the text. The commonly cited meaning of the name Deborah, "bee," is likewise based on the meaning of a Hebrew word.

In the Korean Church

Deborah is often featured in Sunday school lessons on Judges and in sermons on female leadership. Some churches also use her name for a women's mission society or a prayer group.