Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 08:4 (Fall 1994)
Article: The Song Of Deborah Women Leaders In Judges 4 & 5
Author: Arthur H. Lewis

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PP 8:4 (Fall 1994) p. 6

The Song Of Deborah
Women Leaders In Judges 4 & 5

Arthur H. Lewis

A graduate of Wheaton College (B.A.) and Brandeis University (Ph.D.), Arthur H. Lewis is professor emeritus of Old Testament Studies at Bethel College and a past national president of the Evangelical Theological Society. Specializing in Hebrew, Akkadian, and Ugaritic, he was a translator for the Old Testament division of the New International Version of the Bible and he has contributed many articles to scholarly journals.

The Old Testament authors did not hesitate to show the prominent role of women in die history of Israel. Within the narratives of the Hebrew patriarchs, it is clear that the people honored the deeds of Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel. Miriam, the sister of Moses, was esteemed in spite of her untimely rebuke of her brother (Num. 12). Even the Canaanite women like Rahab and Tamar, along with Ruth, the Moabitess, were retained in the historical records of the nation.

The best example, however, of a woman in leadership over Israel is Deborah, one of the judges, all of whom were responsible for keeping the Promised Land free of foreign domination. Judges 4 is the prose account of Israel’s victory over the Canaanites from Hazor. Judges 5 is the “Song of Deborah” which tells the same story in poetic form. In these biblical accounts of Deborah’s life and exploits, two other women play leading roles: 1) Jael, who killed Sisera, the enemy general, and 2) Sisera’s mother, waiting at home for her son to return.

Deborah

This remarkable woman who led the Israelite nation in the thirteenth century BCE, during times of war, had a name meaning “honeybee.” She is listed with the six most outstanding leaders in the book of Judges, when measured by the amount of narrative and detail given for each one. The Hebrew term for judges is shophetim, rarely found as a noun, but often used as a verb for the act of leading or ruling. Judges 4:4 reads “Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.” But the verb is shophet and could be translated “judging Israel.” The Ras Shamra (Ugaritic) tablets have a parallel term that clearly means “to rule.” The judges were, therefore, political officials in charge ofthe national well-being, and were often military heros as well.

Deborah was also known to have the prophetic gift, commonly reserved for men in Israel. She could speak for God and convey to the people the word and will of God. The men of Israel did not know what God wanted them to do, until Deborah told them! Because she was known to be a true prophet, the people c...

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