DEBORAH

1. A prophetess, and wife of Lapidoth, judged the Israelites, and dwelt under a palm-tree between Ramah and Bethel, Jud 4:4,5. She sent for Barak, directed him to attack Sisera, and promised him victory. Barak, however, refused to go unless she accompanied him, which she did, but told him that the success of the expedition would be imputed to a woman and not to him. After the victory, Deborah composed a splendid triumphal song, which is preserved in Jud 5:1- 31. 2. The nurse of Rebekah, whom she accompanied from Aram into Canaan, Ge 24:1-67. At her death, near Bethel, she was buried with honorable marks of affection, Ge 35:8. There is something very beautiful in this simple and artless record, which would scarcely find a place in our grand histories, treating only of kings, statesmen, and renowned warriors. They seldom take the trouble of erecting a memorial to obscure worth and a long life of humble usefulness.

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Deborah. Deborah
A bee. (1.) Rebekah’s nurse. She accompanied her mistress when she left her father’s house in Padan-aram to become the wife of Isaac (Gen. 24:59). Many years afterwards she died at Bethel, and was buried under the “oak of weeping”, Allon-bachuth (35:8).

(2.) A prophetess, “wife” (woman?) of Lapidoth. Jabin, the king of Hazor, had for twenty years held Israel in degrading subjection. The spirit of patriotism seemed crushed out of the nation. In this emergency Deborah roused the people from their lethargy. Her fame spread far and wide. She became a “mother in Israel” (Judg. 4:6, 14; 5:7), and “the children of Israel came up to her for judgment” as she sat in her tent under the palm tree “between Ramah and Bethel.” Preparations were everywhere made by her direction for the great effort to throw off the yoke of bondage. She summoned Barak from Kadesh to take the command of 10,000 men of Zebulun and Naphtali, and lead them to Mount Tabor on the plain of Esdraelon at its north-east end. With his aid she organized this army. She gave the signal for attack, and the Hebrew host rushed down impetuously upon the army of Jabin, which was commanded by Sisera, and gained a great and decisive victory. The Canaanitish army almost wholly perished. That was a great and ever-memorable day in Israel. In Judg. 5 is given the grand triumphal ode, the “song of Deborah,” which she wrote in grateful commemoration of that great deliverance. (See LAPIDOTH, JABIN [2].)

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Deborah. word; thing; a bee

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DEBORAH. 1. Nurse to Rebecca Ge 24:59
* Buried beneath an oak tree near Beth-el Ge 35:8

2. The prophetess, a judge of Israel Jud 4:4,5; 5:7
* Inspires Barak to defeat Sisera Jud 4:6-16
* The triumphant song of Jud 5

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"The Patriotic Woman", associated with Barak in Judging Israel (1) General References to Jud 4:4,14; 5:1 (2) Facts Concerning A judge and prophetess Jud 4:4 Summons Barak to deliver Israel Jud 4:6 Agrees to accompany him to battle Jud 4:9 Inspires him to action Jud 4:14 Sings a paean of victory Jud 5:1-31 Rebukes the indifference of the tribes Jud 5:16,17,23 --SEE Notable Women, WOMEN