Book Talk Thursday

Today we will continue reviewing Chapter 4: "Womanly Dominion In The Old Testament". I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this :)

This week's woman of dominion is Deborah. Next week we will take a look at Ruth.

"During the period of the Judges, Israel was in a backslidden state. "In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6). Personal preferences and feelings ruled. God's Word and Law were trampled" (Chanski, page 69). Israel was under the rod of God's discipline.
"Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him,
For the reward of his hands shall be given him.
As for My people, children are their oppressors,
And women rule over them.
O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err,
And destroy the way of your paths.” Isaiah 3:11-12

"Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time." Judges 4:4

Chanski points out that Deborah judging Israel was part of God's chastisement.
"Quite clearly, her divine appointment as a female leader was a divine rebuke to male dereliction" (Chanski, page 70). Deborah tries to get Barack to lead 10,000 men to defeat the Canaanites at Mt. Tabor. He responds:
"Then Barak said to her, 'If you go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go." Judges 4:8
Thomas Scott comments, "He was culpably afraid and not honoring God as he ought to have done." Chanski writes "Shame on you, Barak! Act like a man!" (page 70).
Deborah responds:
"So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh." Judges 4:9
Chanski responds, "That's right! Another woman named Jael was enlisted to the shame of the faint-hearted Barak, to finish off the Canaanite commander Sisera, by driving a tent peg through his temple and into the ground (Judges 4:21).
This section is summarized with a charge to us women: "At times, when men are passive and inattentive, their women need to step up and become aggressive and decisive" (Chanski, page 70).