Deborah and Barak

There was at one time a woman judge named Deborah. She lived in the high land between Bethel and Ramah. This wife of Lappidoth held court under some great palms. Ephraim was the place where she would settle many qualms. Deborah proved to be a prophetess of God’s word. The Lord’s voice was what through her sounds the people had heard. She sent Barak with his command of ten thousand men coming from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun, to Mount Tabor against the army of King Jabin. This king ruled Canaan from the city of Hazor. For twenty years, he was Israel’s big tormentor. Sisera was Jabin’s general and commander. He and Barak’s men would fight at the Kishon River Deborah went with Barak and his men to Kedesh They killed the enemy with no sign of living flesh. Sisera escaped and retreated running away. He would meet Jael at her tent later on that day. She was the wife of Heber, a friend to King Jabin. Jael offered Sisera shelter and asked him in. She would move toward Sisera when he was asleep Jael took a tent peg to his head and plunged it deep. Barak appeared to her searching for the enemy. Jael took him in to show Sisera’s dead body. A short time later, King Jabin of the Canaanites, would be defeated and killed by the Israelites. Deborah and Barak then sang in celebration. They praised the Lord for all Israel’s liberation. There was great joy and elation among their loud cheers. Peace would then be with the Lord’s people for forty years! From the Old Testament Book of Judges