16, 17). Going back to Deborah, note in Judges 5:4 that the same word is used for Deborah ‘judging” as was used for the male judges. Her location for fulfilling her duties as a judge is very specific. In this case, God gave very specific directions and the results that would follow. The Kishon would flow when flash flooding took place. She was wise and G‑d fearing, and the people flocked to her for advice and help. Not only had they become defenseless spiritually, but also militarily. It is not self-generated. Deborah stands out due to both her spiritual and civil leadership. The overjoyed Jewish troops pursued them to the very hometown of Sisera, Charosheth, and not a single soldier of the Canaanites escaped. Attempting to reassure, those women around her suggested the dividing of the plunder was the reason for the delayed return (vv. The particular Hebrew word used here for offering emphasized the freewill nature of giving. Deliverance from the oppression and bondage of the enemy is always cause for praise to the Lord. Sisera would be lured into a situation which would bring about his defeat. Apparently the oppression of the Israelites wasn't always throughout the entire area of Canaan at the same time. For that reason, we should not add up the time periods of each judge and assume that number represents the entire era of the judges. The current emphasis on leadership often draws from secular sources drawing from business concepts and principles. The most obvious discrepancy is in the identity of the chief foe of the Israelites. Deborah begins by praising the men in Israel who consecrated themselves to the war of liberation: Then the people offer themselves willingly. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. The fourth of the judges who ruled over the Jewish people after the death of Joshua, was not a man, but a woman, one of the most famous of all times, the Prophetess Deborah.Before her were Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar, the latter only for a short time.. After Ehud's death the Jews forsook the ways of the Torah and adopted many of the idols of the people about them. If she did, how many? Rains turned the battlefield into mud, and the chariots were stuck. Assuming his hostess will redirect anyone looking for him, Sisera goes to sleep. This suggests that judges were seen as ‘God’s people’, and their gender was unimportant. Barak refused to undertake this task by himself, knowing well that only the help of G‑d and the inspiration of the prophetess Deborah could succeed in the hopeless odds against the iron chariots and cavalry of Sisera. For even the strongest and noblest of the men of those days had given up hope of turning the tide against the Canaanites' oppression and idolatry.