Deborah, the nurse of Rebekah, died there, and she was buried below Bethel, beneath an oak. This is why that place is called the Weeping Oak.

Chapter 4

Judges Deborah and Barak. After Ehud died the Israelites once again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.

Now Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, a prophetess, was then a judge in Israel.

She used to sit underneath the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites would come up to her for judgment there.

She said, “Fine, I will go with you. But because of how you are doing this, it will not work out to your glory. The Lord will hand Sisera over into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah rose up and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Barak had summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. Ten thousand men were under his command, and Deborah went up with him.

Deborah said to Barak, “Rise up, for this is the day that the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hands. Has the Lord not gone out before you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, followed by his men.

Chapter 5

The Song of Deborah. On that day Deborah and Barak, the son of Abinoam, sang,

Village life ceased in Israel, it ceased until I, Deborah, until I rose up as mother in Israel.

Awake, awake, Deborah. Awake, awake, sing a song. Arise, O Barak, and lead your captives away, O son of Abinoam.

The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, Issachar was with Barak; he sent them into the valley under his command. In the districts of Reuben there were serious doubts.

A third tithe I would distribute among orphans and widows as well as among the converts who were dwelling among the Israelites. Every third year when I brought this third tithe, we would consume it together in accordance with the decree prescribed in the law of Moses and with the commands of Deborah, the mother of my father Tobiel; for when my father died, I was left an orphan.