Deborah and Barak Lead Their People to Freedom – JSS1 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Deborah was a judge and prophetess in Israel, and the wife of Lappidoth, who led Israel with Barak to defeat the Canaanite army of King Jabin.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. State who Deborah was and where she sat to judge Israel.
2. Describe the part Deborah and Barak played in the battle against Sisera and his army.
3. Explain the role of Jael in the victory over the Canaanites.
4. Describe how Sisera died.
5. List the qualities that made Deborah a worthy leader.

Who was Deborah? (Judges 4:1-5)

Deborah was a woman judge, a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth in Israel.

• Judge: she settled disputes and gave God’s guidance to the people.
• Prophetess: she spoke God’s message to Israel and to Barak.
• Wife of Lappidoth: she was a married woman as well as a national leader.
• Place of judgement: she sat under the palm tree of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel, in the hill country of Ephraim.
• Character: she was bold and courageous, and she loved and feasted on God’s word.
• Praise leader: she led Israel to sing a song of victory to the Lord.

Why were the Israelites in trouble? (Judges 4:1-3)

The Israelites were oppressed by the Canaanites because they did evil in the sight of the Lord.

• Sin of Israel: after the death of the judge Ehud, the people again did evil.
• Oppressor: God allowed Jabin, king of Canaan, to rule over them.
• Army captain: Sisera commanded Jabin’s army and had nine hundred iron chariots.
• Length of suffering: Israel was harshly oppressed for twenty years.
• Result: the people cried to the Lord for help, and He sent Deborah.

Who were the main people in the story?

Six main people appear in the story: Deborah, Barak, Jabin, Sisera, Jael and Heber.

How did Deborah and Barak lead Israel to victory? (Judges 4:6-16)

Deborah and Barak led Israel to victory by obeying God’s command and defeating Sisera’s army at the river Kishon.

1. Deborah sent for Barak and told him God’s command to gather ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun.
2. Barak was to lead them to Mount Tabor, and God promised to give Sisera into his hand.
3. Barak agreed to go only if Deborah went with him.
4. Deborah agreed, but told him the honour of killing Sisera would go to a woman.
5. Sisera gathered his chariots and army at the river Kishon.
6. Deborah told Barak to go, because the Lord had gone before him.
7. Barak led his men down from Mount Tabor, and the Lord threw Sisera’s army into confusion.
8. Israel won a decisive battle, and Sisera left his chariot and fled on foot.

Was Barak a coward?

Barak’s request for Deborah to go with him can be discussed from two sides.

• Weakness: he showed some fear and wanted a prophetess beside him before he would go.
• Strength: he obeyed God’s call, gathered the army and led it into battle.
• Result: Deborah’s word meant he lost the honour of killing Sisera.

How did Sisera die? (Judges 4:17-22)

Sisera died in the tent of Heber the Kenite, killed by Jael, Heber’s wife.

1. Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, because Jabin and Heber’s family were at peace.
2. Jael welcomed him and covered him with a rug.
3. Sisera asked for water, and Jael gave him milk to drink.
4. He asked her to stand at the tent door and tell any seeker that no one was inside.
5. While he slept from tiredness, Jael took a tent peg and a hammer.
6. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.
7. When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael showed him the dead man.

• Fulfilled word: Sisera was struck down by a woman, as Deborah had said.
• After the war: Israel grew stronger until Jabin was destroyed, and the land had rest for forty years.

What was the song of Deborah and Barak? (Judges 5)

The song of Deborah and Barak is a victory song that praises God for freeing Israel from Canaan.

• Praise: it thanks the Lord for the leaders who led and the people who willingly followed.
• God’s power: it says the Lord fought for Israel, and the river Kishon swept the enemy away.
• Jael: it blesses Jael for what she did to Sisera.
• Ending: it asks that all the Lord’s enemies perish, and those who love Him be strong.

What qualities made Deborah a worthy leader?

Deborah was a worthy leader because she was brave, faithful to God and fair to the people.

• Courage: she went with Barak to the battlefield.
• Faith in God: she believed God would give Israel victory.
• Love for God’s word: she spoke God’s message to the people.
• Wisdom and fairness: she judged Israel under the palm tree.
• Encouragement: she urged Barak to go forward.
• Thankfulness: she led the people to praise God in song.

What lessons can we learn from the story?

• Obedience: God blesses those who follow His commands.
• Sin has results: Israel suffered when the people turned from God.
• Courage: leaders must be bold when God calls them.
• Equal worth: God can use both men and women to lead.
• Gratitude: we should thank God for every victory.

Evaluation

1. Describe the qualities of Deborah as a leader.
2. State two challenges of the Israelites in Canaan.
3. What was the role of Jael in the victory over the Canaanites?
4. Discuss the death of Sisera.
5. Barak was a coward, yes or no? Discuss.

Assignment

Reading assignment

• Simplified Social Studies for Nigerian Secondary Schools Book 1, by Yusuf, pages 34-42
• RSV Bible, Judges 4:1-24

Weekend assignment

1. ____ was the woman judge and prophetess. (a) Ruth (b) Esther (c) Deborah (d) Naomi
2. ____ was the wife of Lappidoth. (a) Miriam (b) Esther (c) Deborah (d) Mary
3. ____ was slain in Heber’s tent. (a) Sisera (b) Joshua (c) Jabin (d) Barak
4. ____ was the woman who killed Sisera in her husband’s house. (a) Jael (b) Esther (c) Ruth (d) Naomi
5. ____ was the king of Canaan whose army captain was Sisera. (a) Barak (b) Jabin (c) Deborah (d) Heber

Theory

1. Summarise the song of Deborah and Barak.
2. Briefly describe the role or activities of Deborah in this passage.