Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading a Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor. I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”
Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
“Very well,” Deborah said, “I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this,b the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh, where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.
Now Heber the Kenite had left the other Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, Moses’ brother-in-law,c and pitched his tent by the great tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh.
When they told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, Sisera gathered together his nine hundred iron chariots and all the men with him, from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River.
Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, followed by ten thousand men.
[1]
Here Deborah- also a married woman is leading all of Israel.(men and women…not just the women of Israel) She was a judge, chosen by God. God spoke through her. Men came to her for instruction from the Lord. Men acknowledged her authority over them as from God and did not want to go without her into battle. Her husband is mentioned by name which meant he was known. They seemed to trust her leadership and her relationship with God.
a Traditionally judging
b Or But on the expedition you are undertaking
c Or father-in-law
[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan: Grand Rapids
2 comments:
Thanks for the comment! : )
Next thing ya know, you will be hearing that testimony from your childeren as Officer Kids, and as Officers, and then as mothers of Officers Kids! haha Just kiddin.
We got your Christmas card! It was the wrong zip code, but I guess the mail people figured it out.. The picture is soo adorable!!!! Merry Christmas!!!!
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