Judges 4:5

5 And she used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the {Israelites} went up to her for judgment.

Judges 4:5 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 4:5

And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah
Her dwelling house was under a palm tree, or rather she sat under one, in the open air, when the people came to her with their cases, and it was called from hence after her name; though some, as Abarbinel observes, think it was so called, because Deborah, the nurse of Rebekah, was buried here, and which was near Bethel, one of the places next mentioned, see ( Genesis 35:8 ) ,

between Ramah and Bethel in Mount Ephraim;
which places were in the tribe of Benjamin in the borders of Ephraim, see ( Joshua 16:2 ) ( Joshua 18:22 Joshua 18:25 ) . The Jews conclude, from the situation of her, that she was a very opulent woman; the Targum is,

``she was dwelling in a city in Ataroth, Deborah was supported of her own; she had palm trees in Jericho, orchards in Ramah, olives producing oil in the valley, a place of watering in Bethel, and white dust in the kings mountain:''

and the children of Israel came up to her;
from all parts of the land to the mount of Ephraim:

for judgment:
to have her advice and counsel in matters of difficulty, and to have causes between contending parties heard and decided by her, so that she might be truly reckoned among the judges.

Judges 4:5 In-Context

3 And the {Israelites} cried to Yahweh, as he [had] nine hundred iron chariots, and he oppressed the {Israelites} {cruelly} for twenty years.

4 Now at that time Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, [was] judging Israel.

5 And she used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the {Israelites} went up to her for judgment.

6 She sent and called for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh Naphtali and said to him, "Has not Yahweh the God of Israel commanded you? 'Go, {march to} Mount Tabor, and take ten thousand men from the descendants of Naphtali and Zebulun.

7 {I will draw out} Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and troops, to the wadi of Kishon, and I will give him into your hand.'"

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"