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. With Barak, she led the Israelites to defeat Sisera, the captain of King Jabin’s army of Canaan, at the river Kishon. Jael killed Sisera in Heber’s tent, and Israel had rest for forty years.

Behavioural objectives

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

• state who Deborah was and where she sat to judge Israel;
• describe the part Deborah and Barak played in the battle against Sisera and his army;
• explain the role of Jael in the victory over the Canaanites;
• describe how Sisera died;
• list the qualities that made Deborah a worthy leader.

Deborah as a worthy leader (Judges 4:1-2, 5:1-20)

Who was Deborah?

Deborah was a judge, a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth. She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in Mount Ephraim. She was very bold and courageous, and she loved and feasted on God’s word. She led Israel to sing a song of victory to the Lord.

How did Deborah and Barak lead Israel to victory?

Deborah led the army to battle, and through her the Israelites won against the Canaanites. She went with Barak to the war, and they conquered Sisera and his army. Jabin was king of Canaan, and Sisera was the captain of his army. Israel won a decisive battle at the river Kishon. Afterwards, Barak became a leader of Israel, and he also proved himself a good and courageous leader.

How did Sisera die?

Sisera fled and took refuge in the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Jael offered him a drink of milk. While he slept, she took a tent peg and drove it into his temple, fastening him to the ground. Sisera died in Heber’s tent, struck down by a woman, as Deborah had prophesied. The children of Israel then had rest for forty years.

Evaluation

1. Describe the characteristics of Joshua.
2. Discuss the difficulties that many people encountered in leadership roles.

General evaluation

1. State two challenges of the Israelites in Canaan.
2. What was the role of Jael in the victory over the Canaanites?
3. Discuss the death of Sisera.
4. 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.