Deborah in Biblical History

Bible History

Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
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Who is Deborah?
DEB'ORAH
(a bee). 1. The nurse of Rebekah, and her companion into Canaan. Gen 24:59. She was buried at Bethel, under the "oak of weeping." Gen 35:8. "Nurses held a high and honorable place in ancient times, and especially in the East, where they were often the principal members of the family. 2 Kgs 11:2; 2 Kgs 2 Chr. 22:11." 1. A woman of eminent wisdom and holiness (called a prophetess), and a judge of the people of Israel. Jud 4:4 She was the wife of Lapidoth (although some think the passage should read "a woman of Lapidoth"), and had her judgment-seat under a palm tree, which from this circumstance, and from the rarity of the tree, is spoken of as "the [well-known] palm tree of Deborah." Jud 4:5. Israel was suffering at that time a most oppressive bondage under Jabin, a Canaanitish king, to which it was doomed in consequence of its sin. Deborah, by divine direction, called upon Barak, who had probably signalized himself in some way, and commanded him to station himself upon Mount Tabor with a prescribed number of men, and she would see to it that Sisera, the commander of the tyrant's army, should be there, and should fall into Barak's hands. Barak engaged to undertake the enterprise if Deborah would accompany him. To this she consented, prophesying, however, that if she went the honor of the victory would be hers and not his, and that Sisera would be regarded as having fallen by the hands of a woman. Jud 4:9. The two armies met, and the event was as Deborah predicted. Sisera fled, and died by the hand of Jael; his army was cut off and every man slain. Jud 4:21. The triumphal song composed or dictated by Deborah on that occasion is regarded as one of the finest specimens of Oriental poetry. Jud 5. We give a few verses from a revised version: "Lord, when thou wentest forth out of Seir, When thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, Yea, the clouds dropped water. The mountains flowed down at the presence of the Lord, Even that Sinai at the presence of the Lord the God of Israel. * * * * * * * * The kings came, they fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; They took no gain of silver. They fought from heaven; The stars from their courses fought against Sisera. The river Kishon swept them away. That ancient river, the river Kishon. March on, my soul, with strength." See Barak. Jael.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'deborah' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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