Shofetim 4:5

5 And she held court under the Tomer Devorah between Ramah and Beit-El in har Ephrayim; Bnei Yisroel came up to her for mishpat.

Shofetim 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.

Shofetim 4:5 In-Context

3 And the Bnei Yisroel cried unto Hashem; for he had nine hundred chariots of barzel (iron); and twenty shanah he oppressed chazakah the Bnei Yisroel.

4 And isha Devorah, a neviah, the eshet Lapidot, judged Yisroel at that time.

5 And she held court under the Tomer Devorah between Ramah and Beit-El in har Ephrayim; Bnei Yisroel came up to her for mishpat.

6 And she sent and called Barak ben Avinoam out of Kedesh Naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not Hashem Elohei Yisroel commanded, saying, Go and take position at Har Tavor, and take with thee ten thousand ish of the Bnei Naphtali and of the Bnei Zevulun?

7 And I will lure unto thee to the river Kishon the sar Tze’va Yavin, Sisra, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine yad.