Deborah
About this date: This figure belongs to a broad pre-monarchic or early-monarchic narrative setting, not a securely dated point supplied by this graph.
Prophet and judge who leads Israel with Barak.
Historical context
Judges, Ruth, and early First Samuel portray leadership before the monarchy. The stories include deliverance and fidelity alongside violence, failed vows, contested power, and social disorder; inclusion is not moral approval.
Key points
- Prophet and judge who leads Israel with Barak.
- Primary reading: Judges 4–5. Read the complete passage in its literary context.
- These narratives often expose moral disorder as well as recount deliverance; a character's prominence is not automatic endorsement.
Scripture
- Judges 4–5 — Principal biblical passage cluster for Deborah; check the summary against the complete text.
Primary sources
Judges introduces her in these words:
The narrative directly identifies Deborah as both prophet and judge.
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, judged Israel at that time.
Passage context and translation
The narrative introduces Deborah before describing her summons to Barak and Israel's deliverance from Sisera's army.
Before the excerpt
The children of Israel cried to Yahweh
After the excerpt
the children of Israel came up to her for judgment
Sources and further reading
- USCCB introduction to Judges
Literary and historical introduction; not independent verification of every narrated event.