14.THE “PROPHESYING WOMAN” DEBORAH
We have already seen that Mrs. Deborah Lapidoth (Judg. 4:4a), who ‘judged’ Israel (Judg.4:4b), was not an “Elder” (see section nine above). As a “Non-Elder” — Deborah was neither a “Ruling Elder” nor a “Teaching Elder” alias a “Preacher” (I Tim. 5:17). We are never told that Mrs. Lapidoth ruled in the sanctuary, but merely that “the children of Israel came up to her for judgment” (mishpot) alias for advice — and not to a law-court but to a “palm-tree” at “the place where she dwelt” (Judg. 4:5).
Again, we are not told that Mrs. Lapidoth ever “preached” (and still less that she ever preached in the sanctuary). We are merely told that she was a “prophesying woman.” Even later, she did not preach but merely “sang” — sang a duet with “Barak the son of Abinoam” to celebrate his victory as one of the (male) “governors of Israel” whom God had commanded and whom Deborah had encouraged to “lead” the Lord’s armies (Judg. 5.1,9,12).
