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history that we read of the prophetic gift. The sacred text conveys, that she exercised it
in strict accordance with the Divine law, for it is significantly added in connection with
it, that "she judged Israel at that time." Deborah, "the bee,"^204 is described as a "burning
woman."^205 The meeting-place for all in Israel who sought judgment at her hands was
between Ramah and Bethel, under a palm-tree,^206 which afterwards bore her name.
Thence she sent for Barak ("lightning,") the son of Abinoam ("my father" - God -"is
favor"), from the far north, from Kadesh in Naphtali. His ready obedience proved his
preparedness. But when Deborah laid on him the Divine command "gradually to draw"
(^207) an army of 10,000 men to Mount Tabor, Barak shrank from it, unless Deborah would
accompany him.
This evidently proved distrust in the result of the undertaking, which in turn showed
that he looked for success to the presence of man, rather than entirely to the power of
God. Accordingly, he must learn the folly of attaching value to man; and Deborah
predicted, that not Israel's leader, but a woman, wholly unconnected with the battle,
would have the real triumph.
Accompanied by Deborah, Barak now returned to Kadesh, whither he summoned the
chiefs^208 of Naphtali and Zebulon. All plans being concerted, the combatants converged
in small companies, from all roads and directions, "on foot,"^209 towards the trysting-
place. About six or eight miles east of Nazareth rises abruptly a beautifully-shaped
conical mountain, about 1,000 feet high.
This is Mount Tabor ("the height"), its sloping sides covered with trees, and affording
from its summit one of the most extensive and beautiful prospects in Palestine. Here the
army under Barak and Deborah gathered. Tidings soon reached the head-quarters of
Sisera. His chariots could of course only fight to advantage in the valleys, and he
naturally marched north-west to the plain of Jezreel or Esdraelon. This has ever been,
and will prove in the final contest (Revelation 16:16), the great battle-field of Israel. It
was now the first of many times that its fertile soil was to be watered with the blood of
men.
Sisera had chosen his position with consummate skill. Marching in almost straight line
upon the plain of Megiddo, his army was now posted at its entrance, resting upon the
ancient Canaanitish town of Taanach (Judges 5:19, comp. Joshua 12:21). Behind, and at
his left flank, were the mountains of Manasseh, before him opened the basin of the
valley, merging into the plain of Esdraelon, watered by the Kishon. Into this plain must
Barak's army descend "on foot," badly armed, without experienced officers, without
cavalry or chariots - and here his own 900 war-chariots would operate to best
advantage. It was not even like one of those battles in which mountaineers hold their
own fastnesses, or swoop down on their enemies in narrow defiles. On the contrary, all
seemed to tell against Israel - but this, that God had previously promised to draw Sisera
(^)