Deborah and Barak Defeat Sisera

The only female judge, Deborah—a prophetess who held court under a palm tree—summoned Barak to lead 10,000 men against Sisera, commander of King Jabin of Canaan’s 900 iron chariots. Barak agreed only if Deborah accompanied him. She consented but prophesied that the honor of killing Sisera would go to a woman.

God sent a rainstorm that turned the Kishon River valley into mud, rendering the chariots useless. Israel routed the Canaanites. Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, who welcomed him, gave him milk, and covered him. When he fell asleep, she drove a tent peg through his temple, killing him.

Deborah’s Song (Judges 5), one of the Bible’s oldest passages, celebrates the victory in poetic form. The land had peace for forty years. This deliverance demonstrates God using unexpected instruments—two women accomplished what male warriors could not.