Deborah

Deborah was the only female judge in Jewish history, as well as a prophet. She was married to a man named Lapidoth, and she held court under the Palm of Deborah in the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites sought out her counsel and wisdom to resolve their disputes. 

Israel had fallen under the control of the Canaanite King Jabin, and Deborah was led by God to take military action to release her people from oppressive rule. She summoned Barak, an Israelite general, to give him a message from the Lord. Deborah instructed him to raise up an army of 10,000 to defeat the mighty Canaanite army, led by Sisera.

Barak was reluctant to go, but he accepted the assignment to go only if she accompanied him into battle.

She agreed, telling Barak the message from the Lord that Israel would be victorious, and that Sisera, the Canaanite army general, would be destroyed at the hand of a woman. (Judges 4)

Indeed, the prophecy was fulfilled when a woman named Jael killed Sisera, putting a tent peg through his skull. This brought the battle to an end, and the Israelites were victorious. 

Deborah and Barak celebrated this winning battle with a song of victory, recounting the events of the battle. Deborah sang, “Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel.” Judges‬ ‭5:7‬ 

Deborah's wisdom, courage, and obedience to God brought about victory for the Jewish people, as well as 40 years of peace. 

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