The influence of such a woman—­a woman instructed in the religion of Jehovah—­a woman of faith and of prayer—­would be felt, first, in her own family, or in her immediate circle of friends; and then would commence the reformation and the repentance and putting away of past sins and the return to the God of Israel.  And as the influence spread, the circle extending, the whole nation would seem to have been affected, and they naturally resorted to one whose wisdom and piety were so well established, when any questions of their law, either civil or religious, were to be settled.  Thus the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.  They came to her—­for her feet abode within her own dwelling.  Her influence extended throughout all the borders of her land, but her presence still blest her own house.  The prophetess of Israel was still the wife of Lapidoth, and her only authority was that of piety, wisdom and love.  A more beautiful instance of a woman’s true, legitimate influence cannot be given.  Quietly, unostentatiously exercised, it penetrated through the nation and brought them back to Jehovah, and prepared the way for the removal of their yoke.

For many years she was doubtless employed in reclaiming and instructing her people.  Through this influence the children of Israel were prepared to assert their liberty; and then Deborah was inspired to call upon “Barak the son of Abinoam,” to gather an army, and take his station on Mount Tabor, where the Lord would deliver the enemies of Israel into his hands.  She did not propose to attend—­certainly not to lead—­the army; but, giving her message, her counsel and her prayers, would still abide under the palm-tree and remain with her husband.  But the appointed general knew so well the value of her presence in inspiring the people with confidence, and felt so much the need of her prayers, that he refused to go unless she sanctioned the expedition with her attendance.  “And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, I will go; but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.”

Thus appealed to, the answer was immediate:  “I will surely go with thee; notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour, for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.”

Mount Tabor, chosen for the encamping-place of the army of Barak, still rises like a tall cone in the vast plain of Esdraelon, which, stretching across the land to the sea, has since been the battle-ground of nations.  From the wide plain on its lofty summit, Deborah and Barak could look over almost all the land.  The view of the hills of Judea, of the sea of Tiberias, and of a country of wide extent, still repays the toil of those who climb to its summit.