Deborah

Deborah was a prophetess and the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. She lived during a time when the Israelites were oppressed by Jabin, the king of Canaan (Judges 4:4). Deborah held court under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, where the Israelites came to her for judgment (Judges 4:5).

Deborah summoned Barak, an Israelite warrior, and delivered a message from God instructing him to lead an army against Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army (Judges 4:6–7). Barak agreed to go only if Deborah accompanied him, to which she consented but prophesied that the honor of the victory would go to a woman (Judges 4:8–9).

Deborah and Barak led the Israelite army to Mount Tabor, where they defeated Sisera's forces (Judges 4:10–16). Sisera fled and sought refuge in the tent of Jael, who killed him by driving a tent peg through his temple (Judges 4:17–22).

After the victory, Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise, recounting the events of the battle and celebrating God's deliverance (Judges 5:1–31). Deborah's leadership as a prophetess and judge brought 40 years of peace to the land of Israel (Judges 5:31).