1. What did the children of Israel do after the death of Ehud?
2. What are two significant facts we should remember about Deborah?
3. What would you tell someone if they argued that the example of Deborah shows women should be elders and preachers today?
• Secondly, we do not have prophetesses today (I Corinthians 13:8-10) as they did even in the 1st century (Luke 2:36 and Acts 21:9). • When there were prophetesses in the local church during the age of miracles by men through the Holy Spirit, those women were not permitted to speak in the worship assembly (I Corinthians 14:34-35).
LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles” (Judges 4:1-2). • Barak was summoned: “And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand” (Judges 4:6-7). 5. What did Barak request of Deborah before he’d go to war?
not go” (Judges 4:8). • This either reveals a lot about the strength of Deborah as a leader (Jeremiah 51:30) or very little about the courage of Barak at this time (I Corinthians 16:13). Maybe both! • We can know that Barak will step up and be a man, for his name is listed in the “hall of faith” (Hebrews 11:32). 6. How much honor would Barak receive using Deborah’s help?
thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh” (Judges 4:9). • As an interesting discussion, is the woman under discussion Deborah or Jael in light of what we’ll see in question number 8?? 7. Did the Lord deliver Sisera’s chariots and army unto Barak?
that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left” (Judges 4:13-16). 8. Was Sisera able to escape, or was he caught by Barak?
was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples” (Judges 4:17-22). 9. What happened to Jabin?
the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan” (Judges 4:23-24). 10. Answer the following true or false statements from the song Deborah and Barak sung.
sides of a battlefield.) 11. How long was Israel at rest after they defeated Jabin?
12. After Israel’s rest from defeating Jabin, what happens next?
of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.” (Judges 6:1-6).
the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land; And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice” (Judges 6:7-10). 14. What type of man was Gideon (revealed through the comments of the angel)?
15. Was Gideon more like Moses (Exodus 3-4) or more like Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8)?
22). 16. What was the first task Gideon was instructed to carry out?
even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night” (Judges 6:25-27). 17. What kind of reaction occurred when Gideon carried out the first instruction God gave him?
were a god. When Gideon [Jerubbaal] was called to have Baal accuse him, the spirit of the Lord was upon Gideon who “rallied the troops” so to speak. Then two miracles were performed by God to reassure Gideon through dew on the fleece instead of the ground followed by the opposite the next day (Judges 6:28-40). 18. List three great lessons you see when God leads Israel to defeat the Midianites?
LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me” (Judges 7:2). • In all that Israel had seen and done, there was still fear among them showing that faith is more than sight (II Corinthians 5:7; cf. Hebrews 13:5-6): “Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand” (Judges 7:3). • There is not strength in numbers when God is your King: “And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place... And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude” (Judges 7:7; 12). • With the Lord turning the swords of the enemies against themselves you can defeat a large army with few men and no strong weapons: “And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath” (Judges 7: 16-22). 19. What happened to Oreb and Zeeb?
Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan” (Judges 7:24-25). 20. Why were the men of Ephraim angry and how were they calmed down?
thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply. And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that” (Judges 8:1-3). 21. How many of the three hundred soldiers of Gideon’s army were killed?
22. What did Gideon promise the men of Succoth and Penuel?
for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower” (Judges 8:5-9). 23. After taking Zebah and Zalmunna, what did Gideon do unto the men of Succoth and Penuel?
24. What did Gideon end up doing to Zebah and Zalmunna?
they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks” (Judges 8:18-21). 25. How did Gideon respond to the children of Israel when they wanted him to be their ruler?
rule over you” (Judges 8:23). 26. What happened when Gideon made an ephod from the spoils they had gotten from victory?
whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house” (Judges 8:27). 27. What happened as soon as Gideon died?
whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god. And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel” (Judges 8:33-35). |
| Having A Basic Understanding of Some Old Testament Truths Part 35 –Deborah Through Gideon (Judges 4-8) Click Here To Download This Material in a PDF File |
| © 2008 This study was prepared for the midweek studies of the Sunrise Acres church of Christ in El Paso, TX by Brian A. Yeager. |
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