Deborah. Ruth. Abigail. Mary. Martha—these are some of the women of the Bible bound together by their desire for a life of service and a yearning to be faithful to the one God.
Deborah, a prophetess and woman of outstanding character, sent Barak into war against the Canaanites, and accompanied him at his request. After their victory, the Israelites sang a song to thesetwo leaders that is sometimes considered the oldest piece of ancient Hebrew literature. See Judg., chaps. 4–5 and James Hastings, ed., Dictionary of the Bible (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1963), pp. 207–208 .
Ruth deserves the title of "best daughter-in-law," because of the way she stood by Naomi after Naomi's husband and sons (one of whom was Ruth's husband) died. When Naomi returned to her home country, Ruth went with her. There, Ruth's constancy and faithfulness caught the eye of her husband's kinsman Boaz, who married her. See Ruth 2:1–4:13 .
