Difference between revisions of "Deborah"

<p> '''1.''' Rebekah's nurse (&nbsp;Genesis 24:59), faithful as a servant from Rebekah's childhood, and so, when dead at an advanced age, lamented as much as one of the family. Her burial place at the oak beneath [[Bethel]] was hence called Allon-Bachuth," the oak of weeping" (&nbsp;Genesis 35:8). She was in Jacob's household now, as she had been in his mother's, who was by this time dead, as appears from &nbsp;Genesis 35:27. </p> <p> '''2.''' The prophetess and judge ("a bee"), a personal or possibly an official name applied to poets, seers, and priestesses. The symbol of a monarch in Egypt; a honey bee to her friends, a stinging bee to the enemy (Cornelius a Lapide). "Lived under the palm tree"; a landmark, as palms were rare in [[Palestine]] (&nbsp;Judges 4:5); possibly meaning [[Baal]] Tamar, "the sanctuary of the palm" (&nbsp;Judges 20:33). Wife of Lapidoth; "a mother in Israel," a patriotic and inspired heroine like Miriam. [[Jabin]] oppressed the northern tribes adjacent to [[Hazor]] his capital (Zebuhn, Naphtali, and Issachar, which she judged). Barak, at her call, summoned these (to whom the central tribes, Ephraim, [[Manasseh]] (Machir), and [[Benjamin]] in part sent contingents, &nbsp;Judges 20:14) in a long train (draw: &nbsp;Judges 5:6-7) toward the broad topped mount Tabor. [[Deborah]] accompanied him at his request. </p> <p> With but 10,000 in his train ("at his feet"), by the Lord's interposition, descending from Mount Tabor, he defeated Sisera's mighty host and 900 chariots who were in the famous battlefield of [[Jezreel]] or Esdraelon, in the valley of Kishon. Deborah's prediction was fulfilled by the "Lord's selling [[Sisera]] into the hand of a woman," namely, Jael, the [[Kenite]] Heber's wife. [[Enthusiasm]] for the cause of Israel, so closely allied with the [[Kenites]] through Moses' father-in-law Hobab, caused her to commit the treacherous murder. The praise, "blessed above women in the tent (i.e. shepherdesses) shall [[Jael]] the wife of [[Heber]] the Kenite be" commends her faith, not her treachery. Some actions of faith are mixed with the corrupt motions of the flesh, as that of the midwives and Rahab's treatment of the spies. So Jael's act showed real faith in the case of God's controversy with the godless Canaanites. </p> <p> The approval of her faith, the mainspring of her conduct, by no means implies approval of the deceit by which its true character was obscured. Yet faith is precious and "blessed" in spite of grievous infirmities, and will at last outgrow and stifle them utterly. God is keen to see the faith, slow to condemn the fault, of His children. Deborah and Barak together sang the song of victory composed by her. It begins with a reference to Jehovah's original, grand, and awful manifestation at [[Sinai]] (Exodus 19; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 33:2), the sealing of the covenant with Israel, and the ground of all His subsequent interpositions for them. Then follows Israel's deep degradation, its highways deserted, its 40,000 soldiers (a round number for a diminished army) without shield or spear, because they forsook [[Jehovah]] for "new gods" (compare &nbsp;Deuteronomy 32:17). Then "war (pressed up) to their (very) gates." </p> <p> But now deliverance is come, for which "bless the Lord." All should join in "speaking" His praise: the upper classes "who ride upon white-spotted asses," and those "that sit upon coverings" ( '''''Middin''''' , the rich, &nbsp;Matthew 21:7) spread upon the asses; also the humbler "who walk on the way," foot travelers. Those delivered from the plundering "archers "who infest "the places of drawing water" to plunder the shepherds, shepherdesses, and their flocks in lawless times (&nbsp;Exodus 2:17), should rehearse there, now that all is peace, "the Lord's righteous acts." "Then shall the people of Jehovah go down (from their past mountain hiding places) to their gates" and towns now delivered. "Barak, lead away thy captivity (train of captives) captive" (quoted in &nbsp;Psalms 68:18); fulfilled exhaustively in Christ the ascended [[Conqueror]] (&nbsp;Ephesians 4:8; &nbsp;Ephesians 4:13). </p> <p> "Out of [[Zebulun]] came they that handle the pen of the writer," i.e. the scribes of the host (&nbsp;Jeremiah 52:25) who wrote down the names of the soldiers. "Barak was sent by his feet into the valley," i.e. impelled irresistibly to the battle. "At the brooks of [[Reuben]] were great resolutions of the heart," but issuing in no practical action, the tribe resembling their forefather. Reuben preferred hearing "the bleatings of the flocks" to the blast of the war trumpets. Dan with its port [[Joppa]] preferred merchandise to warring for the fatherland. "Asher abode in his bags." </p> <p> "The kings of [[Canaan]] took no gain of money," i.e. no booty, as they expected, from the battle; for "the stars from heaven fought against Sisera;" i.e., a Jehovah-sent storm beat in their faces and on the Israelites' back (Josephus), swelling the Kishon, which suddenly fills up the dry channel and overflows the plain of Esdraelon, making it impassable with mud, especially to chariots, so that the" prancing horses" and their "mighty" riders were swept away. </p> <p> [[Meroz]] might have intercepted the retreating foe and Sisera, but is "cursed by the angel of Jehovah" for not doing so; and Jael is blessed" for her zeal, though mixed with earthly alloy. So "the land had rest for 40 years." (See [[Barak]] .) Neither [[Ehud]] nor Jael are in the list of examples of faith in Hebrews 11. Jael apparently received Sisera in good faith, with the intention of hospitality, but a sudden impulse may have urged her to destroy the enemy of God's people. Her faith and patriotism are commendable, but not the means she took of delivering Israel. </p>

<li> 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" (&nbsp;Judges 4:6,14; &nbsp;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 &nbsp;Judges 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].) <div> <p> '''Copyright Statement''' These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton [[M.A., DD]]  Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> '''Bibliography Information''' Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Deborah'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/d/deborah.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>

<p> Two women named Deborah are mentioned in the Bible. The first of these was the maidservant of Rebekah who came with her from Paddan-aram when Rebekah married Isaac. She lived to a great age and died near Bethel (&nbsp;Genesis 24:59; &nbsp;Genesis 35:8). </p> <p> The better known Deborah was a respected civil administrator in Israel during the era of the judges. She lived near the town of Bethel, where she gave decisions in cases brought to her for judgment. Being a prophetess, she was well suited to discern God’s will in difficult cases (&nbsp;Judges 4:4-5). She is chiefly remembered for directing Israel’s victory over the forces of Sisera in northern Palestine. (For map see [[Judges, Book Of]] ) </p> <p> With her army general Barak, Deborah led a force of [[Israelite]] soldiers up Mt Tabor, with the aim of drawing out Sisera’s chariot forces into the plain of the [[Kishon]] River below (&nbsp;Judges 4:6-10). With prophetic insight, Deborah must have foreseen the outcome. There was a tremendous storm, the river flooded and, as Sisera’s chariots became bogged, the Israelites rushed down upon them and won a great victory. Many details of the event are given in the song of victory that Deborah composed to celebrate the occasion (&nbsp;Judges 4:12-16; &nbsp;Judges 5:1-22). </p>

<p> [[Deborah]] ( ''Dĕb'O-Rah'' ), ''A Bee.'' 1. The nurse of Rebekah, and her companion into Canaan. &nbsp;Genesis 24:59. She was buried at Bethel, under the "oak of weeping." &nbsp;Genesis 38:8. Nurses held an honorable place in early times in the East, where they were important members of the family. &nbsp;2 Kings 11:2; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 22:11. 2. A prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, who judged Israel. She dwelt under, ''I.E.,'' had a tent pitched beneath, a noted tree; a palm tree it is called, and may have been at Baal-tamar, &nbsp;Judges 20:33, or not far distant from the tree under which the first Deborah was buried. Deborah incited Barak to deliver his people from the oppression of Jabin; at his desire accompanied him, though with a rebuke, and after the victory uttered a triumphal song of praise. &nbsp;Judges 4:5. </p>

<p> ''''' deb´ō̇ ''''' - ''''' ra ''''' ( דּבורה , <i> ''''' debhōrāh ''''' </i> , signifying "bee"): </p> <p> (1) Rebekah's nurse, who died near Bethel and was buried under "the oak of weeping" (&nbsp;Genesis 35:8 margin). </p> <p> (2) A prophetess, fourth in the order of the "judges." In aftertime a palm tree, known as the "palm tree of Deborah," was shown between Ramah and Bethel, beneath which the prophetess was wont to administer justice. Like the rest of the "judges" she became a leader of her people in times of national distress. This time the oppressor was Jabin, king of Hazor, whose general was Sisera. Deborah summoned Barak of Kedesh-naphtali and delivered to him the [[Divine]] message to meet Sisera in battle by the brook Kishon. Barak induced Deborah to accompany him; they were joined by 10,000 men of Zebulun and Naphtali. The battle took place by the brook Kishon, and Sisera's army was thoroughly routed. While Barak pursued the fleeing army, Sisera escaped and sought refuge with Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, near Kedesh. The brave woman, the prototype of Judith, put the Canaanite general to sleep by offering him a draft of milk and then slew him by driving a peg into his temple. Thus runs the story in Jdg 4. It is on the whole substantiated by the ode in chapter 5 which is ascribed jointly to Deborah and Barak. It is possible that the editor mistook the archaic form קמתּי , <i> ''''' ḳamtı̄ ''''' </i> , in &nbsp;Judges 5:7 which should be rendered "thou arosedst" instead of "I arose." [[Certainly]] the ode was composed by a person who, if not a contemporary of the event, was very near it in point of time. The song is spoken of as one of the oldest pieces of Hebrew literature. Great difficulties meet the exegete. Nevertheless the general substance is clear. The Lord is described as having come from Sinai near the "field of Edom" to take part in the battle; 'for from heaven they fought, the very stars from their courses fought against Sisera' (&nbsp; Judges 5:20 ). The nation was in a sad plight, oppressed by a mighty king, and the tribes loth to submerge their separatist tendencies. Some, like Reuben, Gilead, Dan and [[Asher]] remained away. A community by the name of Meroz is singled out for blame, 'because they came not to the help of Yahweh, to the help of [[Yahweh]] among the mighty' (&nbsp;Judges 5:23; compare the Revised Version, margin). Ephraim, Issachar, Machir, Benjamin were among the followers of Barak; "Zebulun ... jeopardized their lives unto the death, and Naphtali, upon the high places of the field" (&nbsp;Judges 5:18 ). According to the song, the battle was fought at [[Taanach]] by the waters of Megiddo; Sisera's host was swept away by "that ancient river, the river Kishon" (&nbsp;Judges 5:21 ). Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, receives here due reward of praise for her heroic act. The paean vividly paints the waiting of Sisera's mother for the home-coming of the general; the delay is ascribed to the great booty which the conqueror is distributing among his Canaanite host. "So let all thine enemies perish," concludes the song; "O Yahweh: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might." It is a song in praise of the "righteous acts" of the Lord, His work of victory which Israel's leaders, 'the long-haired princes,' wrought, giving their lives freely to the nation's cause. And the nation was sore bestead because it had become faithless to the Lord and chosen new gods. Out of the conflict came, for the time being, victory and moral purification; and the inspiring genius of it all was a woman in Israel, the prophetess Deborah. </p> <p> (3) Tobit's grandmother (the King James Version "Debora," [[Tobit]] 1:8). </p>