As described in the Book of Judges, Deborah was a judge in her native Israel — the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. In the Hebrew Bible, ‘judges’ weren’t as we know them today. Instead, they were unelected people who served as military leaders in times of conflict, often chosen by God. 

In her role as a judge, Deborah would sit under the palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would line up for her to rule on a matter.

Outside this role, she was also a prophetess, which is someone who could communicate with the God of Israel and through whom God spoke. She was also the wife of Lappidoth.

Deborah would prophesy on matters such as upcoming battles with the oppressive Canaanites, and she often proved to be accurate. 

Jewish chronology dates her 40-year ruling as a judge from 1107 BC until 1067 BC, the year of her death. Biblical scholars place the pinnacle event of her life, the war with Sisera, in the second half of the 11th or 12th century BC.

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After the biblical narrative of the story of Deborah in chapter 4 of the Book of Judges, the story is retold in the Song of Deborah, a victory hymn, in one of the earliest examples of Hebrew poetry.

Judges 4 takes us on a journey with Deborah through her trials with the adversarial Canaanites. 

It begins in Israel, where Deborah and her people are being oppressed by King Jabin of Canaan, who’s residing in its capital of Hazor. 

Frustrated, she sends a message to Barak, a ruler of ancient Israel and son of Abinoam. She states that the Lord God commanded Barak to gather 10,000 troops from Naphtali and Zebulun and take them to Mount Tabor. She said that the Lord would draw Sisera, commander of the Canaanite army, to the river Kishon for battle. 

Hearing of this, Barak declines to attend without Deborah. She accepts but warns that “the glory of victory will therefore belong to a woman.” 

Noticing his concern, Deborah continues, telling Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?" (Judges 4:14).

When Sisera learns of the troops on the mountain, he gathers 9,000 iron chariots and a small army. 

Correct in her prophecy, Barak leads the army into the battle. Aiding Israel, God sends a powerful rainstorm that soddens the ground, rendering the iron chariots stuck and useless. Rain fills the nearby rivers, washing away hundreds of troops occupying Kishon. 

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The Canaanites are completely defeated, with Sisera fleeing on foot. He arrives at the tent of Jael, another one of the strong women of the Bible, hoping to find rest. As he sleeps, Jael hammers a tent peg through his skull, killing him instantly and delivering Israel from the troops of Jabin.

That’s Deborah’s story — one of steadfast faith, direct communication with God, courage, and female heroism. 

How was she able to command kings, organize troops, and predict battles with such unwavering confidence?

We can learn a lot of important lessons from Deborah’s story in the Old Testament for our own lives today.  

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Faith in God’s word

It was an unbreakable faith in God that gave Deborah the confidence to assume a leadership position and direct a successful battle for her people of Israel. Hearing God directly, she could understand His plan with great clarity and therefore take the risks that she did to win the battle. 

God didn’t tell her of His plans to send a rainstorm to disrupt the Canaanite army’s chariots of iron. She simply listened to the command to tell Barak to send the troops and followed it without question. This example of blind faith in His word worked in her favor, and God provided the support they needed. 

We don’t know when and in what ways God will support us throughout the various challenges in our lives. All we need to do is trust in His plan without question, and he will reveal Himself. 

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Gender roles and bravery

The Bible and the accompanying time period it references wasn’t one of equity and fairness when it came to the role of women in society. 

So, it’s both surprising and comforting to learn of these exceptional tales that highlight the influence, strength, and bravery of two women, Deborah and Jael. 

God grants strength and good favor equally to those who follow His rule and listen to His words. There‘s no room for inequity or injustice in the share of God’s love and support.

Through diligently reading the Bible, we learn of the inspirational character of Deborah, a judge, prophetess, and warrior. 

Deborah heard God's word and, through His counsel, orchestrated a successful battle that delivered her people from the Canaanites. 

We learn from Deborah that God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. Listen to His word and have faith in His protection, and He’ll support you in all of life’s endeavors. 

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To learn about other strong women in the Bible, such as Esther and Miriam, download the Pray.com app in the iOS App Store or on Google Play.