Was Deborah A Judge For The Nation of Israel?

[bejay]

Was Deborah A Judge For The Nation of Israel?

(Article originally written by "Bejay" from LWF)

In the publication “Aid to Bible Understanding,” page 433, published 1969, 1971, under the heading “Deborah” #2, it reads: “A prophetess and judge in Israel; the wife of Lappidoth. (Judg. 4:4) There is no evidence that Lappidoth and Barak were the same person, as some suggest. The association of Deborah and Barak was purely because of their common interest in liberating Israel from Canaanite oppression. Deborah dwelt under a palm tree located in the mountainous region of Ephraim between Ramah and Bethel; “the sons of Israel would go up to her for judgment.” (Judg. 4:5)

In the publication “Insight on the Scriptures,” Volume I, page 600, published 1988, under the heading “Deborah” #2, a change is made. It simply reads: “A prophetess in Israel.” Amazingly, the words “and judge in Israel” were taken out. Why?

Perhaps, the reason for this change is made clear for us in an even more recent Watchtower Society publication entitled “See the Good Land” published in 2003, on page 14, paragraph 1, it has this to say with reference to Barak and Deborah: “Jehovah used Judge Barak and the prophetess Deborah to rally Israel against Canaanite King Jabin, who had oppressed the people for 20 years.” In paragraph 2 on this page, it states further: “Judge Barak led the men of Israel down into the valley to engage Sisera’s forces. Jehovah ensured victory by sending a flash flood that bogged down Sisera’s chariots, which panicked the Cannanites. (Jg. 4:1 – 5:31)”

If you read the cited scripture, Judges 4:1 – 5:31, there is no mention made of Barak doing any kind of judging. He is cited as being the one that Jehovah chose to lead the army against Sisera and Deborah was the one Jehovah sent to call him. But there is a specific statement made relative to Deborah being a judge in Israel. Judges 4:4, 5 has this to say.

“Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided.”

Now this is a very clear statement as to who was judging Israel when Barak came on the scene. Why would the Watchtower Society so blatantly make a statement that is in directly contradicts what the Bible specifically tell us? They claim to be upholders of God’s word and would condemn anyone that they found doing exactly what they have done in this case.

The reason could partly be that they do not understand the real purpose of the Mosaic Law Covenant. Since the New Covenant, the one that they claim to be under, does not allow women to have positions over men, they have obviously concluded that it must be true also under the Law Covenant in spite of what the scriptures say.

The Law Covenant, if obeyed, would have brought untold blessing to Israel. (Consider Leviticus 26:3-13; Deuteronomy 7:11-15 and Deuteronomy 28:1-14.) Humans could enjoy blessing such as those outlined in the above mentioned chapters only if the Law Covenant itself brought respite from the curses that mankind experienced because of Adam’s sin. Genesis 3:15-19 outlines these curses. Basically we learn that in addition to having difficulty in childbirth, Eve would be dominated by Adam. The ground would be cursed, growing thistles and thorns, making it all but impossible for Adam to provide food for his family.

Now if we consider the blessing that Jehovah promised Israel if they were obedient, we learn that the earth would produce bountifully, negating the curse put upon it in the Garden of Eden. Having children would be a joyful experience, not something to be dreaded because of the pain associated with it.

Deuteronomy 28:11, 12 reads this way: “The LORD [Jehovah] will grant you abundant prosperity – in the fruit of the womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground – in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you. The LORD [Jehovah] will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.” (New International Version)

Does not this description remind us of previous pristine conditions found only within the Garden of Eden? Even more revealing in these promises was one that stated that Jehovah would heal them from sicknesses. (See Deuteronomy 7:15) Yet these were promises made to a nation who were descendants of Adam. So we conclude that the relations between the sexes would also be affected for the better. Nowhere in the Law Covenant is it stated that women would be dominated or ruled over by their mates. They were given rights just as the men had. (See Number 27:5-7)

So, it is not a stretch to imagine that Jehovah could choose a woman to judge or to render decisions for his people considering that the curses brought upon the descendant of Adam and Eve had been suspended under the Law Covenant.