A Woman Rises Up

Ερώτησις. ΙΒ' Τί δήποτε γυνὴ προφητευει; Ἐπειδὴ ἀνδρῶν καὶ γυναικῶν μία ἡ φήσις. Ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ Ἀδὰμ ἡ γυνὴ δυεπλάσθη, καὶ λόγου μετείληχεν ὡς ἐκεῖνος. Διὸ καὶ ὁ Απόστολός φησιν, Ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οὐκ ἔνι ἄῥῥεν καὶ θῆλεν. Οῦτω καὶ Μωσῆς προφήτης, καὶ Μαριὰμ προφῆτις. Οἴμαι δὲ καὶ τὴν Δεββώραν εἰς ἔλεγχον τῶν τότε ἀνδρῶν τῆς προφητείας ἀξιωθῆναι. Οὐδενὸς γὰρ ἐξ ἐκείνων εὐρεθέντος ἀξίου τῆς χάριτος, αὕτη τῆς τοῦ παναγίου Πνεύματος τετύχηκε δωρεᾶς· καὶ οὕτω δήλη ἧν, ὅτι τῆς ἄμωθεν ἡξίωτο χάριτος, ὡς τὸν βαρὰκ μὴ τολμῆσαι δίχα ταύτης εἰς τὴν παράταξιν ἐξελθεῖν· τοῦτο δὲ καὶ ἐν τῇ ᾠδῇ αὐτῆς ἔφη· Ἐξέλιπον οἱ κρατοῦντες ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ, ἕως οὕ ἐξανέστη Δεββώρα μήτηρ ἐν Ἰσραήλ. Θεοδώρητος Ἐπίσκοπος Κύρρος, Εἰς Τους Κριτάς Source: Migne PG 80.497c-500a

Question 12 Why was it that a woman made prophecy? Because there is one nature of men and women. For from Adam the woman was formed and was made a participant in reason, as even he was. Thus the Apostle says, 'In Jesus Christ there is neither male nor female.' 1 So Moses was a prophet and Miriam a prophetess. And I think that Deborah was given the gift of prophecy to shame men. For when among men none could be found worthy to receive the grace, so she was endowed with this gift by the Holy Spirit. And so clearly was she in receipt of the supernal grace that Barac would not dare go to the mountain without her, whence she sings concerning herself: 'Israel was bereft of mighty men, until Deborah rose up, a mother in Israel.' 2 Theodoret of Cyrrhus, from Questions On Judges 1 Galat 3.28 2 Judges 5.7

Deborah's Teaching

Debbora enim prophetis, uxor Lapidoth, judicabat populum in illo tempore, et sedebat sub palma inter Rama et Bethel in monte Ephraim, ascendebantque ad eam filii Isreal in omne judicium. Debbora, quae interpretatur apis, sive loquela, in prophetia et forma accipenda est de qua scribitur: Quam dulcia faucibus meis eloquia tua. Consideremus ubi locus prophetiae esse describitur. Sub palma, inquit, sub palma sedem habet prophetia, quia quos suis institutionibus erudit, ad palmam supernae vocationis adducit. Inter medium autem Rama et inter medium Bethel sedere prophetia dicitur, quia Rama interpretatur excelsa, Bethel autem domus Dei, utique quia nos in domo Dei positos, non quae in terra sunt quaerere docet, sed quae in coelis sunt. Sanctus Isidorus Hispalensis,Mysticorum Expositiones Sacramentorum Seu Quaestiones In Vetus Testamentum, In Librum Judicum, Cap II Migne PL 83.380

Deborah the prophetess, wife of Lapidoth, judged the people in that time, and she sat beneath a palm between Rama and Bethel on mount Ephriam, and there came up to her for judgement the sons of Israel. 1 Deborah, is interpreted bee, or speech, and in prophecy and form it is understood concerning her that it is written: 'How sweet in my throat your words'. 2 Let us consider the place where the prophetess is said to be. Beneath a palm, it says, beneath a palm the prophetess had her seat, because instructing them with her teaching she guided them to the palm of supernal calling. And between Rama and between Bethel it is said the prophetess sat, because Rama is interpreted exalted, and Bethel the house of God, as then we who are placed in the house of God teach that one should not seek the things of earth, but the things of heaven. Saint Isidore of Seville, Expositions of Sacred Mysteries or Questions on the Old Testament, On The Book of Judges, Chap 2 1 Judges 4.4-5 2 Ps 118.103