Prophetess deborah biography samples

The name Deborah means ‘a bee’, and in view of the intelligent and hard-working reputation of the bee, Deborah was a fitting name for the fifth judge in Israel. Married to a man named Lapidoth, it is not known if Deborah and her husband ever bore children.

Deborah was prophetess and judge in Israel during the time when Jabin, king of Canaan, terrorized the Hebrews with his military power.

In spite of this, year after year Deborah sat under a palm tree near Bethel and the people flocked to her to for judgments and wisdom.

One day she summoned Barak, a Hebrew from Naphtali, and challenged him to lead an army against the Canaanites.

He agreed to do it only if Deborah herself would accompany him to battle. She agreed but warned him that the honor for destroying the Canaanite general would then go to a woman.

The tiny Israeli force routed the Canaanites that day.

Piecing together details from Deborah’s famous song of victory, evidently a terrific rainstorm