Deborah: Motherhood with Attitude

Deborah: Motherhood with Attitude

Judges 4-5

The account of Deborah is recounted in Judges 4 historically, and Judges 5 musically or poetically. The “Song of Deborah” has been called by commentators, “one of the great literary achievements of the ancient world.”

Deborah describes situation in her song: Judges 5:

1. Crime. (Judges 5:6-7)

2. Israel forsook the Lord. (Judges 5:8)

3. God raised up Deborah. (Judges 5:7)

Who is Deborah?

• Judges 4:4: A
• Judges 4:4: She is one of 10 women described in the Bible as a “prophetess.”
• Deborah. Judges 4.
• Miriam, Ex. 15
• Huldah 2 Kings 22
• Isaiah’s wife. Isaiah 8:3
• Nodiah. Nehemiah 6
• Anna. Luke 2.
• Philipps 4 daughters.
• Judges 5:7:

Deborah was a woman of incredible influence.

1. She influenced people in her life to:

• She is a prophetess judging Israel. Both those roles have to do with the Word of God. To judge them was to lead them. Not into battle, but to Biblically settle disputes. Notice she holds court at the Palm of Deborah. Her role as “prophetess” would be to bring people to the Word of God.
• In Genesis 24:28, Rebecca had a servant named Deborah who was buried in that same area under an oak.

2. She influenced people in her life to:

• Israel makes Mount Tabor their fortress. It gives them a place to meet without fear of attack, since the enemy is using chariots that go up hills.
• Mt. Tabor is probably the same mountain Jesus was transfigured on.
• Judges 4:8, Barak puts conditions on obedience. He will go only if Deborah goes. Deborah agrees, but says a woman will get the victory.
• Barak means “lightning.” In Canaanite theology, Baal is a rain god, or god of the storm. Here comes lightning to make war on Canaan.

Battle of Mt. Tabor:

• There was a historical battle in 1799.
• The valley going down fight to in is Megiddo, (Judges 5:19)
• Napoleon called Megiddo, “Most natural battlefield whole earth.”
• King Ahaziah died at Megiddo. (2 Kings 9:27)
• Josiah fought Pharaoh Necho and was killed at Megiddo. (2Kngs 23)
• The Greek is “Armageddon.”
• Judges 4:15 gives credit for the victory to Yahweh. They killed the army by “the edge of the sword.” (Megiddo means, “Please of Slaughter.”)
• The scenes feels apocalyptic. The armies of Israel coming down the mountain, seemingly from the sky, to the place of battle at Armageddon.
• Judges 5:20 says that the “stars fought.” This suggests an angelic element to the battle; it was a spiritual war as much as one of flesh and blood. Barak was so concerned that Deborah go with him, but all along the God of the armies of heaven was with him.
• Judges 5:5 says that when the army of Israel moved out, the Lord went ahead of them. Notice the earth quakes as the Lord goes out; much as it did at Sinai when God came down on the mountain. Here God comes down from heaven to Mount Tabor, then out to battle.
• Judges 5:21 suggests a miracle: The “torrent of Kishon” swept in. That is, the enemy’s chariots were rendered useless. They were forced to fleeing on foot.

3. She influenced people in her life to: Walk

• Judges 4:17, Sisera fled on foot to the Kenites. The Kenites were related to the Jews by Moses’ wife.
• Everything Jael does is to make Sisera sleepy. She puts him under a heavy blanket (Hebrew, “Shemikah,” sometimes translated rug), gives him milk instead of water.
• Jael means “Mountain Goat.” She gives him milk. Deborah means honeybee. They are milk and honey. (Just go with it…)
• Bedouin women were responsible for setting up the tents. She would have been very familiar with the hammer and tent peg. (Judges 4:21)
• Notice that Barak doesn’t get the credit, nor Deborah, but God uses Jael.