Mrs Lady Justice Prophetess Deborah
I’m yet to find another woman in the Bible who wears as many hats as Deborah: Prophetess, wife, judge and songstress/poet. We aren’t told much about her husband, just that his name was Lapidoth. In a patriarchal society, it shouldn’t be taken for granted that Deborah was married and able to perform all these roles.
I understand that it’s disputed, but I want to invite you to imagine with me that Deborah was a military commander from here on. Let’s dive into it:
Operation name: Kishon
Commanding authority: Deborah
Field commander: Barak, son of Abinoam
Enemy commander: Sisera, General of Jabin, King of Hazor
Task force: 10,000 light infantry from Naphtali and Zebulun
(Happening under the palm of Deborah)
Deborah: Please report the situation first commander?
Barak: Jabin has dominated northern Israel for twenty years. I say enough is enough!
Deborah: Let’s stick to facts commander
Barak: Yes commander. Sisera has 900 iron chariots based at Harosheth-hagoyim. Israel has no comparable force-
Deborah: Facts Barak! (interrupting him)
Barak: They own the valleys but we own the hills. The morale among our men is low.
Deborah: Thank you. Our mission is simple. Destroy Sisera’s army, break Jabin’s control over the northern tribes and secure the land.
Barak: Understood. But (stuttering). How do we do that? I mean, with 10,000 light infantry from Naphtali and Zebulun?
Deborah: Yes Barak. The plans are already and set in motion. The LORD said “I will draw out Sisera and his chariots to meet you by the river Kishon and there I will deliver him into your hands.” Your task is to assemble the men and follow exactly what I will tell you next.
(Deborah lays out the battle plans as per God’s word)
Barak: “If you go with me, I will go but if you will not go with me, then I will not go.”
Famous words uttered by a (military) man to a woman 😁. This was the first and last time these words were pronounced by a man. I jest. Seriously though, this made me think: “Are you the kind of woman, your man would want to be with in the battlefield?” I’m not talking about wielding a sword, or maybe I am?
(Back to the story)
Deborah: I’ll go with you but this way, the glory won’t be yours, but it shall belong to the hand of a woman. (Hint: Deborah wasn’t speaking of herself 😉)
Deborah went to the battlefield: I don’t imagine she went for the sword fight, but what do you think? The story records that she used to dwell under the palm of Deborah (between Ramah and Bethel), yes, the palm was named after her. Here people would climb to seek her wisdom and God’s judgement. How ready do you think she was to go to battle?
Deborah: (Commanding) “Up for this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand!”
The plan was executed flawlessly: they assembled and moved to Mt. Tibor, holding a higher ground. The enemy was baited and mobilized, then Barak at Deborah’s command descended upon Sisera’s army and with God’s help, Barak won.
Sisera fled into the bushes and found his way into a tent village where he meets the immobilized asset, who had just received her assignment. Guess who?
Jael: “Turn aside my lord; turn aside to me; do not be afraid.” If he only knew, he would’ve been very afraid.
Sisera: Please give me a little water to drink for I am thirsty…
If you haven’t read the previous story of Jael, the plot thickens on that side. Enjoy 👇
https://insightstrove.com/jael-heroine-or-traitor/
(Battle Aftermath: Back under the palm of Deborah)
Deborah: Report?
Barak: We managed to destroy Sisera’s chariots
Deborah: Facts Barak! How many times do I need to remind you?
Barak: We destroyed all Sisera’s 900 chariots. And get this, Sisera fled the battle ground but I tracked him on foot. I got to this tent village where I was met by a woman who somehow knew who I was looking for. She welcomed me in her tent and there Sisera lay dead. His temple pinned to the ground with a tent peg.
Deborah: (smiled)
Barak: Do you know her? Did you know this was going to happen
Deborah: Lessons learnt?
Barak: Uh…Do not despite unconventional assets like a woman with a tent peg. Heavy armor isn’t decisive when the LORD floods the valley. Obey God’s voice…
Deborah: (Smiling) The mission was successful.
Deborah broke out into a song: (recorded in the book of judges 5- one of the oldest poems in the Bible)
(Jael, most blessed of women- she crushed his head-between her feet he sank. Sounds like foreshadow to me 🧐)
Note: please make sure to read the story yourself in the book of Judges 4&5 to understand the context as this isn’t the whole story. I did however make sure to check my facts 😁.
Do you think women should command armies? How do you think they fare?
Let me know your thoughts 🤗 and look out for LYDIA!