DEBORAH
feminine proper name. The Bible highlights:
(a) Rebekah’s nurse whom she accompanied from Aram to Canaan (Gen. 24:59). At her death, near Bethel, she was buried with marked manifestations of affection, under the famous oak to which the name Allon-bacut, “the oak of weeping” was then given (Gen. 35:8). ), 1732 BC.
She was at that time in Jacob’s house, Rebekah having already died, no doubt, and she was about 120 years old (Gen. 24:59). There is something very beautiful in this simple consignment, which could scarcely be found in our great stories of kings, statesmen, and famous warriors.
These, in fact, rarely take the trouble to erect a monument to a dignified but obscure life spent in the performance of humble services.
(b) Prophetess and wife of Lapidot, who judged the Israelites and lived under a famous, and perhaps solitary, palm tree between Ramah and Bethel (Judges 4: 4, 5).
When the Jews, especially those of the northern tribes, were suffering under the tyranny of Jabin (1296 BC), as a prophetess she endeavored to raise them from their despondency, and sending for Barak she induced him to attack Sisera and promised him victory.
Barak, however, refused to go unless she accompanied him, which Deborah agreed to do; but she told him that the success of the expedition would be attributed to a woman and not to him. After the victory she composed a splendid triumphal song, which is preserved in Jue. 5 and which is one of the oldest pages of biblical literature.