A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Deborah

In the Book of Judges, the Prophetess and Judge Deborah is one of the most important figures. Her military conquest of Hazor and her Song are essential moments in Israelite history. Her song is worthy of discussion within a Ten Commandments’ context. 

Deborah, in partnership with Barak, conquer Hazor, and, per Dr. Richard Elliott Friedman, create Israelite regional hegemony. She, according to her song, presents herself as the “mother” of Israel. Judges 5:7; thr George Washington of her nation Her song’s importance is that it is considered one of the earliest parts of the Hebrew Bible. 

With her Hazor victory, she sings a song summing up the events of the great victory. In doing so, she makes reference to history.  She sings that “mountains melted before the Lord- as did Sinai-before the Lord, the God of Israel.” Judges 5:5. She sings that her heart “is with the lawgivers of Israel who are devoted to the people, [saying], ‘bless the Lord.’ She references that Machir descended lawgivers and that there are those Zebulun who act as scribes. Judges 5:14.

While Deborah’s song is elusive towards a definitive acknowledgement of the Ten Commandments, she references Mt. Sinai’s import. The import’s nature is enigmatic. With reason, it references that greatness of the “God of Israel.” Without a reference to the Decalogue’s deliverance or Moses, one cannot capture Deborah’s thoughts. While the song speaks of lawgivers, there is no reference to the Torah.  The scribal reference lends to the notion that literary tradition was taking place even prior to the monarchies.

Deborah’s Song raises the issues of what should readers make of a mt. Sinai reference. What did Mt. Sinai mean to Deborah? Was it simply an earth shaking moment with a volcanic like effect?  Or, did the reference to Mt. Sinai knowlingly imply the delivery of the Ten Commandments? What did the people in the time of the Judges understand a reference to Mt. Sinai to mean? For us today, what does the mere reference mean today?

Be well!!

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