The hebrew term shofet, which is translated into english as judge, is closer in meaning to ruler, a kind of military leader or deliverer from potential or actual defeat. The book of judges highlights six judges during this time and shows their increasing corruption. She was the only woman who served as a judge during those extended years of turmoil. The book of judges exemplifies this marginalization as it witnesses to it. The opening verses of chapter 4 tell us that the israelites were doing what was evil in gods eyes, and their actions resulted in their being sold into the hand of king jabin. In fact, the book of judges features many strong female characters who serve in significant roles, and who are effectively portrayed as leaders, heroes, and capable, resourceful individuals. The first notably important judge of the tribal confederacy was deborah, who was primarily a seer, poet, and interpreter of dreams but still a person endowed with the kind of charisma that identified her as a judge sent from yahweh. What deborah does and doesnt say about women in the. In judges, the israelites turn away from god and face the consequences. When ehud was dead, the children of israel again did evil in the sight of the lord. The book of judges follows the book of joshua which is the sequel to the five books of moses. God uses a good woman only when a good man cant be found, she said. Joshua, judges, ruth, samuel, and kings, as well as the books of the restoration. Deborah stands out due to both her spiritual and civil leadership.
According to author joseph telushkin in his book jewish literacy, the only thing known about deborah s private life was the name of her husband, lapidot or lappidoth. Her story is told in both prose judges 4 and poetry judges 5. Book of judges bible study commentary the cycle of sin. If you are running out of parking spaces in your church, try preaching a sermon on judges 19. Most of the judges actually start out as charismatic military leaders who might more appropriately be called generals. The people recognize her wisdom and come to her for counsel and conflict resolution judges 4.
Although barak commanded the israelite army in battle, it was deborah and jael who played a major role in siseras defeat. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The book of judges provides fuel for a variety of theological controversies. Deborah was an uncommon leader because she was a woman. Once they establish peace with an enemy, they then rule as either military chieftains or selfproclaimed kings. Deborahs war illustrates the role of ancient israelite judges. As a prophet, judge deborah was said to hear gods voice and share gods word with others. Zebulun, issachar, and naphtali as opposed to the two tribes in judges 4. People often turn to the book of judges to prove that it is okay for women to lead, but i think you can see from these stories that the men were weak and not doing what they were supposed to. These judges start off fairly well othniel, ehud, deborah but become increasingly worse gideon, jephthah, samson. These continue as such in our christian old testament of the bible.
From the beginning, deborah is identified show more content. The book of samuel covers the period from samuel, the last of the judges, through the reigns of the first two kings of israel, saul and david except for davids. The book ends with two very disturbing stories that show how incredibly lawless the people have become. Deborah again the israelites did evil in the eyes of the lord, now that ehud was dead. Instead, the biblical deborah was a renowned prophetess, an honored judge, and an ideal role model for every woman called to lead others. The two literary creations have subtly different attitudes, and in placing them side by side, the historian of the book of judges encourages the reader to read them together as well as separately.
The judge who served as a priest, prophet, and judge during the transitional period of israels history as she emerged. Book of judges bible study outline judges commentary part one the cycle of sin defined by i gordon. A role that originated back when moses appointed helpers to assist him. The judges in the book of judges served during these dates. Prophet deborah is the only female judge in the torah. A role that originated back when moses appointed helpers to assist him in resolving arguments among the people. In judges 1 god identifies judah as the leading tribe of israel, the tribe that should lead the way in the conquering of the canaanites.
If you are teaching old testament stories in chronilogical order this could be a good time to begin memorizing the names of the 39 books of the old testament. The story of deborah is in judges 4, and the song is in judges 5. I asked where she got that idea, and she said it was right out of the book of judgesdeborahs story, in fact. And this is one incredible book of stories and people. Women may have had an official liturgical role as song writers in ancient israel. Chaos judges 121 bible commentary theology of work. She held court under the palm tree of deborah in the hill country of ephraim, deciding the peoples disputes. Really, there are quite a number of good women described in the scriptures, but precious few of them get much recognition. Learn about her courage and prophecy in this video, part of our judges series and. These rulers were called mishpat, which is translated as judges. Deborah began this song in judges 5 by teaching the people that when leaders lead in israel, when the people willingly offer themselves, bless the lord. Women played a large part in biblical events and they are a vital part of the church today.
And she would sit under the palm tree of deborah between ramah and bethel in the mountains of ephraim. Someone had taught her that a godly woman leading meant a man had failed somewhere. Deborah provides a picture of leadership that wasnt normally seen in. Her story is told in the book of judges, chapters 4 and 5. Judge deborah was one of the rulers of the hebrews and the only female leader in the old testament. The book of judges, which is believed to have been written by the prophet samuel around 1050 bc, presents us with a sad and turbulent period in israels history. God called her to a prominent position as a prophetess and judge at a time in history when he commonly appointed men to those positions. Deborah is introduced, as are the other 11 judges in the book of. One of the biggest travesties of skipping the book of judges in sunday school is that one of the greatest role models in the bible for our little girls is the fourth judge, deborah. Under these conditions, the successors to joshuathe judgesarose.
I asked where she got that idea, and she said it was right out of the book of judges deborah s story, in fact. Deborah was a judge that mainly settled disputes holding court under the palm tree of deborah between ramah and bethel in the mountains of ephraim judges 4. This study on judges originated from a handout and class notes in dr. According to author joseph telushkin in his book jewish literacy, the only thing known about deborahs private life was the name of her husband, lapidot or lappidoth. Deborah was one of the judges, and both she and jael were instrumental in the. Deborah, the only female judge in the hebrew bible, defeated the canaanites with the help of. Biblical literature the roles of deborah, gideon, and. Tragedy and hope in the book of judges bibleproject. The biblical judges are described in the hebrew bible, and mostly in the book of judges, as people who served roles as military leaders in times of crisis, in the period before an israelite monarchy was established. However you look at her motherly role, there is little doubt that the book of judges sets her up to be a hero in israel and a wise judge for the people. The book of judges follows the book of joshua which is. Chaos judges 121 bible commentary produced by tow project. Being a prophetess must have helped deborah to solve these disputes spiritually rather than simply politically or judicially.
Leadership resides not in gender but in character and gifting. And the children of israel came up to her for judgment judges 4. What were the roles of the judges in ancient israel old. Books of the bible verse of the day bible in a year bible topics. Lets take a look at several bible passages to better understand the role and impact of deborah. Now deborah, a prophetess, the wife of lapidoth, was judging israel at that time.
The israelites had been under the control of the canaanite king jabin and the commander of his army, sisera. According to the book of judges, deborah was a prophetess of the god of the israelites, the. The judges of israel certainly acted in these capacities and more. When deborah became judge, the israelites had been subjugated for 20 years by jabin, king of canaan. The powerful woman of deborah and the book of judges. The account of deborah and barak is found in judges 4 and 5 in the old testament. Deborah, the fourth of the twelve judges in this time period, follows one of these time periods of wandering away from god. A third woman, siseras mother, makes an appearance at the. So the lord sold them into the hands of jabin king of. Through the centuries, interpreters usually distinguished between deborahs civil role as judge and her religious role as propheta distinction that likely did not apply to the world of hebrew scripture. Deborah made good use of all the gifts and opportunities god sent her way.
Judge debby she was not, dispensing criminals with a sarcastic barb and a wave of her hand. Deborah lived somewhere about 1150 bce, about a century or so after the hebrews entered canaan. The burden of the book is that the nation is a mess. Othneil, ehud, shamgar, deborah, gideon, tola, jair, jephtha, ibzan, elon, abdon, and samson appear as judges of israel in that order in the book of judges.
What role do women play in the book of judges answers. Deborah was both a prophetess and ruler of the people of ancient israel, the only woman among the twelve judges. The bible records no dissent or rebellion against her. According to the book of judges, deborah was a woman from ephraim who served as a tribal leader and as a woman who was called to speak on behalf of yahweh. For the most part, the book of judges reflects a negative picture of. Proponents of womens political power lifted up deborah as an example of successful female civil leadership. The tales of 12 judges are told in the biblical book of judges. Yet the overall tenor of judges does not encourage us to make these men into role models. Robert chisholms hebrew class at dallas theological seminary. Analysis of women in the book of judges essay 1955 words. An excellent example of an influential woman in judges is deborah. From the end of deborahs time onward, things really start to go downhill, beginning with gideon and coming to a.
Deborah is introduced, as are the other 11 judges in the book of judges, without fanfare. The canaanites had 900 chariots of iron and ruled over israel for 20 years judges 4. Other commentators believe that deborahs role as judge was a sign of gods comforting presence in the midst of his oppressed and downtrodden people. Now deborah, a prophetess, the wife of lappidoth, was judging israel at that time. If that doesnt work, try doing character studies on jephthah or samson. Firstly, to better understand deborah, we have to discover the world she lived in. Deborah, jael, and the woman who killed abimelech were great. Men and women are equal in value, different in role and designed to work together. This is actually an ode, or a ballad, recounting the battle that god fought against the enemy.
Background today we are going to study the book of judges, but i think it always helps to understand the context of a book before you study it, so first i want to show how judges fits into the history of the nation of israel. Though verse 7 speaks mainly of deborah, it does emphasize the role that spiritual. Deborah is one of the major judges meaning charismatic leaders, rather than. The story of deborah prophetess and judge in israel is a powerful example of how faith in action works.