Beshalach 5773: Devorah & Yael

This week’s Haftorah contains the Song of Devorah. The Haftorah, found in Shoftim/Judges 4-5), corresponds to the weekly Torah portion in which the sea splits, the enemies drown, and Moshe (Moses) and Miriam sing in gratitude to G-d for the miraculous salvation of the Jewish People. The Song of Devorah similarly celebrates the miraculous victory of a small army of Israelites over a huge force of Canaanites.

Devorah is a judge and prophetess. “She would sit under the date palm of Devorah…and the Children of Israel would go up to her for judgment [because it would be immodest for a woman to be secluded with a man other than her husband.]” Devorah is the fourth of 15 judges, the only woman and the only prophet-judge until Shmuel (Samuel), the last of the judges. She is one of seven female prophets, including Miriam.

Devorah’s story takes place during a time in which “there was not yet a king in Israel and a person did whatever he chose to do.” (Shoftim 21:25) There is rampant sinfulness and foreign oppressors. G-d chooses a leader, known as a judge, who could inspire the people to repent and return to G-d’s favor.

Yavin, king of Canaan, and his general Sisera, had been oppressing the Israelites for twenty years. Devorah receives a prophecy from G-d telling her it is time to assemble a small army to challenge the Canaanites. He instructs Devorah to appoint her husband, Barak, to lead the attack.

Barak, which means “lightning”, is also called Lapidot, which means “torches”. Rashi explains that Devorah is responsible for making the wicks used to kindle the menorah in the Shilo Tabernacle. The Midrash in Eliyahu Rabba tells that Devorah sends her husband to the Tabernacle with the wicks. He fashions thicker wicks that increase the light in the Tabernacle.

In the Midrash, Barak/Lapidot is described as an “am ha-aretz” (literally, “person of the earth”, a laborer, not a scholar). Dina Coopersmith on aish.com writes: “Devorah focuses on her husband’s strength and suggests that he bring the wicks she made to the Tabernacle, hoping he’d find uplifting company there which will inspire him toward spiritually-oriented deeds.”

When Devorah relays G-d’s warfare directive to Barak, he tells her, “If you come with me, I will go, but if you don’t come with me, I won’t go.” Devorah agrees to accompany her husband, but she tells him: “There will be no glory for you in the course you are taking, for then the L-rd will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Writes Mrs. Coopersmith: “Barak has instilled within himself such a high level of trust in Devorah’s prophecy, coupled with his own humility, that he was willing to forego his own honor as a military victor. As a result, he becomes a partner with Devorah in her spiritual song of thanksgiving.”

Despite being incredibly outnumbered, Barak achieves a victory, receiving help from the forces of nature. Fiery stars fall onto the battlefield, causing the enemy to retreat to the Brook of Kishon. The water miraculously rises, drowning all but the general Sisera.

Sisera’s fate is left in the hands of a courageous woman named Yael. She invites Sisera into her tent and feeds him creamy milk until he falls asleep. Then she drives a tent peg into his head! Writes Mrs. Coopersmith: “In those days, being conquered at the hands of women was considered humiliating. Their degrading insults designed to humiliate the Jews, resulted in equal mortification regarding the ‘feminine’ nature of their downfall.”

After the fall of Yavin, Devorah leads the nation for forty peaceful years. She restores Torah scholarship, inspires the people to follow Torah laws and brings them closer to G-d. Mrs. Leah Kohn on torah.org writes about Devorah’s leadership style: “Devorah exhibits a woman’s ability to instill rather than impose, to invigorate rather than force, and to cultivate rather than command.”

http://www.torah.org/learning/women/class62.html
http://www.torah.org/learning/women/class63.html
http://www.aish.com/jl/b/women/Women-in-the-Bible-7-Devorah.html