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Bible People - Deborah |
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Extra Websites Ancient Warfare - Sisera's fearsome weapons Chariots Deborah, Jael and Sisera's
mother - three powerful women Hazor, the city of King Jabin,
Deborah's mortal enemy The Army, Battles and Weapons
in ancient Israel Barak, one of the Top Ten
Bible warriors - the mud-stained soldier The tent where Jael
first hid then murdered the enemy general Sisera The murder
of Sisera - don't trust a woman bearing curds Or something completely different? Deborah's Battle Plan, Maps, Tactics
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Deborah: Judge and Leader 'Float like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee'
See the story below Deborah Listens to God
Deborah was a ‘prophetess’ - not someone who foretold the future but who ‘heard’ a message from God in some way and passed it on to the people around her. Deborah also acted as an oracle when, sitting under a sacred tree in the hill country of Ephraim, she gave judgment on particular matters. People came to her when they needed a dispute settled, or when they needed advice about their future actions. She listened, considered the problem, then gave her advice. Deborah spoke out about the deteriorating state of the country around Ephraim. Law and order had broken down, and it was no longer safe to travel on the highways. The Israelite settlers in the hill-country harassed the Canaanite 'old-timers', raiding their farms and villages down on the plains. Deborah Summons Barak
The Canaanites in Ephraim were led by King Jabin of Hazor. He wanted to get rid of the problem altogether by simply wiping out the hill tribesmen. In this emergency, the Israelites turned to Deborah. She in turn summoned a military leader called Barak, and gave him orders. He should go to Mount Tabor with as many fighting men as he could muster, and draw King Jabin into battle. Barak was reluctant to obey her orders, probably thinking of the nine hundred iron-wheeled chariots and the well-disciplined army that Barak's general Sisera commanded. This was good. An army general ought to think of the odds against him, and the safety of his soldiers. The Israelites had nothing like Sisera's fire power, since they lacked the technology and know-how to develop comparable weapons.
Barak had a much smaller army, comparatively untrained, and with inferior weapons. It was unlikely he could succeed against such odds. Like any good general, he did not wish to sacrifice his men unless there was a chance of winning. Deborah, however, was able to inspire him. She knew the Israelite's forte was guerrilla warfare, and she counting on the weather to help her - she had waited until the time of year when there were heavy rainfalls. Her army, led by Barak, assembled at Mount Tabor. They were a brave but motley force.
The Battle at Mount Tabor
Sisera, on the other hand, assembled a terrifying force. He had 900 iron-trimmed chariots at his disposal, and they could do fearsome damage. Their weight and velocity as they charged into an opposing army could plough a dreadful furrow through the ranks of soldiers. See Ancient Warfare: Chariots. The Canaanites ought to have won the battle easily. They did not. There was a tremendous downpour and the 900 chariots, meant for quick maneuvering on firm ground, became bogged in the mud. The flash flood swelled the nearby Wadi Kishon and turned the battleground into deep mud, giving the Israelite foot soldiers the advantage over the Canaanite chariots. Unhampered by heavy armor, they were more mobile than the Canaanites, who were easy prey for the Israelite swords and lances. See Battle at Mount Tabor
In the aftermath of the battle, Sisera was slaughtered by a Kenite tribeswoman called Jael. She drove a tent-peg through his skull as he slept. There is a pathetic description of Sisera's mother standing at the window of her house, watching the road for the son who will never return.
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Bible Stories: People of
the Old Testament - Bible Study Resource |
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Deborah, a
judge and
prophetess who rallied the Israelites against King Jabin of Hazor;
'Deborah' means 'bee' in Hebrew.
