The current century has marked the advancement of women to positions of national and indeed international importance in almost every field, not excluding governmental and military affairs. While preparation for this progressive development is found as early as the fifteenth century, which witnessed the heroic generalship of Joan of Arc, and the sixteenth, marking the long and successful reign of Queen Elizabeth, one of the greatest feminist leaders in history was Deborah, who lived over three thousand years ago. This remarkable woman had a wide variety of talents, which she seems to have exercised to the full.
In a time of national danger and difficulty, when men dared not walk along the highways for fear of attack (Judges 5:6, 7), the people of Israel turned expectantly to this inspired prophetess, and "came up to her for judgment" (4:4, S). Not content with the responsibilities involved in such a position, Deborah proceeded to take immediate steps to organize the people of her country to resist their Canaanite oppressors. Sending for a certain "Barak the son of Abinoam," she ordered him to take a force of ten thousand men with which to attack Sisera and his legions; and when he refused to advance without her presence and support, she immediately agreed to accompany him (4:6-9). The account which follows shows clearly that both the strategy and the timing of the Israelite campaign were worked out by Deborah herself, and that she remained in the field to make certain that her commands were put into effect by her somewhat timorous subordinate. Her plans were completely successful, despite the fact that a number of the Israelite provinces, notably Gilead, Dan, and Asher, withheld their support, while Reuben, after long consideration, likewise sought refuge in a policy of isolationism (5:15-17). Acting under her orders, Barak advanced upon the Canaanites, whose forces broke up in confusion. Many were drowned in the flooding of the River Kishon, while the remainder fell by the sword (5:21; 4:16). As their leader Sisera attempted to escape from the field, he sought refuge in the tent of "Jael the wife of Heber," who administered the coup de grace with her own hand (5:26). Thus while this lightning campaign was planned and indeed executed by one woman, its final blow was struck by another, as Deborah had foreseen (4:9).
To think of Deborah solely, or even primarily, as a warlike Amazon, is to misjudge her character, and to underestimate her importance. She wrought deliverance for her native land in a time of dire emergency. The Song of Deborah, in which her henchman Barak joined her, now found in the fifth chapter of Judges, is admittedly one of the earliest documents of the Old Testament, and it gives a peculiarly vivid and stirring account of the Israelite victory, while casting still further light upon the character and achievements of this amazing woman. As judge and as general, wife and mother, prophetess and organizer, Deborah showed her extraordinary versatility, while her courage was equaled only by her stanch faith in the Lord, the God of Israel, who, as she herself expressed it, "made me have dominion over the mighty" (5:13).
