4 Deborah, wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet, and she was leading Israel as a judge at that time. 5 She would sit under Deborah’s Palm between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for her decisions.4:5. Though Deborah is called a "judge," her role is far more than that of a magistrate. The decisions she made were of national importance, more than the mere settling of legal disputes. In this case, "judging" would have the meaning of "governing." 6 She sent for Barak, son of Abinoam, from the town of Kedesh in Naphtali and told him, "The Lord, the God of Israel, orders you: ‘Go to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun, and lead them there. 7 I will bring Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River, and hand him over to you.’"
8 Barak replied, "If you come with me, I’ll go; but if you don’t come with me, I won’t go."
9 "I’ll definitely go with you," Deborah answered, "but if you’re going to take that route then you won’t receive any respect, because the Lord will give Sisera into the hands of a woman." Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh.