Deborah

Deborah is the only female judge in the book of Judges. She is also called a prophetess. Under the leadership of Deborah and Barak, the army of Israel defeats the army of the Canaanites (Judges 4). This victory is also celebrated in the Song of Deborah and Barak in Judges 5.

The name Deborah means “honey bee”. In Judges 4–5, however, this name is given no special significance.
Other women in the Bible with the name Deborah are Rebecca’s nursemaid (Genesis 35:8) and the great-grandmother of Tobit (Tobit 1:8).

Deborah was married to Lappidoth. She is called a judge and a prophetess. This means that she had authority and fulfilled an important social and spiritual function. Deborah first made her appearance in the region between Rama and Bethel, north of the present-day city of Jerusalem. She did not pronounce her judgements at the city gate as was customary, but under a tree, the so-called palm of Deborah.

Deborah asks Barak, on behalf of God, to form an army to fight the Canaanites. King Jabin of Canaan has been oppressing the nation of Israel for some 20 years. Barak is only prepared to carry out this command if Deborah comes with him. Deborah reacts by predicting that the commander of the Canaanite army would be killed by a woman.
Barak and his men defeat the Canaanites, but their commander, Sisera, jumps from his chariot and flees. He hides in the tent of Jael and thinks that he is safe there. But when Sisera falls asleep, exhausted, Jael drives a tent peg through his head, and he dies.

We find the Song of Deborah and Barak in Judges 5. Above the song, we read that Deborah and Barak sang this song together when they had defeated the army of the Canaanites. The story and the song belong together, but each emphasises different things.
The song in Judges 5 is about the various tribes of Israel, who together march on the king of Canaan. However, some of the tribes refuse to join in the fighting (Judges 5:17). The story in Judges 4 only names two tribes and lays emphasis on the combined leadership of the commander of the army, Barak, and the prophetess, Deborah.