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Judges 4:1-7
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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Hebrew Interlinear Bible, WLCv, WLC5, CHES, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
  • Shoftim 4: Massoretic, Hebrew, JPS.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • I.21, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • From the Geneva Notes.
  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Those who in God's name call others to their duty, should be ready to assist them in it."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "...the word prophets or prophetesses is ambiguous, sometimes being used of persons extraordinarily inspired by God, and endowed with the power of working miracles, and foretelling things to come; and sometimes of persons endowed with special gifts or graces, for the better understanding and discoursing about the word and mind of God."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "And Deborah, a prophetess--A woman of extraordinary knowledge, wisdom, and piety, instructed in divine knowledge by the Spirit and accustomed to interpret His will; who acquired an extensive influence, and was held in universal respect, insomuch that she became the animating spirit of the government and discharged all the special duties of a judge, except that of military leader."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Judges 4:1-7, Dennis Olson, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2017.
  • The Center for Excellence in Preaching, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, Illustration Ideas, 2017.
  • "Deborah, A Good Leader," Connections, Next Sunday Resources, 2017.
  • Commentary, Judges 4:1-7, Sara Koenig, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2014.
    • "The gospel lesson for today is the parable of the talents, in Matthew, where Jesus warns against burying a gift that God has given. Deborah is an example of someone who seems to put her gifts to work in surprising, creative, and inspiring ways."
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2017.
  • "Mirror, Mirror," Lynn Miller, Art & Faith Matters, celebrating our creative and living God by generating art and architecture resources for congregations and individuals. Art and Faith Matters facebook page contains additional resources.
  • "Deborah," "Jael," Frederick Buechner.
  • "God Calls the Unexpected," Faith Element, 2014.
  • Commentary, Judges 4:1-7, James Limburg, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
    • "One of the slogans floating about our churches these days is 'God's work, our hands.' These stories remind us that those hands carrying out the work of a mighty and merciful God are women's hands, too."
  • "Women's Parts," Fr. Rick Morley, a garden path, 2011.
    • "Sometimes God calls upon the elderly, like Abraham and Sarah. Sometimes God calls upon the morally compromised like David and Paul. Sometimes God calls on young women, like Mary. And sometimes he calls upon ancient female judges sitting under a palm tree."
  • "Deborah and the God of Surprise," John C. Holbert, Patheos, 2011.
  • "This narrative account of the struggle between Israel's army, mustered by Deborah, and lead by Barak, and the army of King Jabin of the Canaanites, lead by Sisera, has been overshadowed by the poetic account of the same struggle found in Judges 5."
  • Commentary, Judges 4:1-7, Ralph W. Klein, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
  • "Deborah is among the most prestigious female leaders in the Old Testament and her exemplary leadership may provide encouragement to lay and ordained female leaders in the church today."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • The Old Testament Readings: Judges 4:1-7. Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church,
    • "...we are aware again that contrary to the usual (male) expectations, the Lord works his plans on his own, often unexpected, terms, and often in ways that directly confront the less than righteous agendas we sometimes bring to the task of serving the Lord."
  • Desert Scribblings, Judges 4:1-7, Geoff McElroy, 2008.
    • "How are we contributing to these problems through "ungodly" living?  That is, living in ways that are not in harmony with God, with each other, and with the rest of creation?"
  • "Called Out, Not Left Out," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Vocation," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2004.
  • Judges - Deborah, The Woman's Bible, Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
  • "The Role of Women in the Book of Judges," by Hampton Keathley IV at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "By the end of this story, we see that Israel has taken a step backward in terms of male leadership. Fortunately, two women rose to the occasion to compensate for the men?s weakness."
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Ackerman, Susan, "Why Is Miriam Also among the Prophets? (And is Zipporah among the Priests?)" Journal of Biblical Literature, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Amit, Yairah, "Judges 4: Its Contents and Form," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 1987.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Arnold, Talitha, "Sit on It," The Christian Century, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Brenner, Athalya, "A Triangle and a Rhombus in Narrative Structure: A Proposed Integrative Reading of Judges 4 and 5," Vetus Testamentum, 1990.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Christianson, Eric S., "The Big Sleep: Strategic Ambiguity in Judges 4-5 and in Classic film noir," Biblical Interpretation, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Fewell, Danna Nolan and David M. Gunn, "Controlling Perspectives: Women, Men, and the Authority of Violence in Judges 4-5," Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 1990.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hackett, JoAnn, "Violence and Women's Lives in the Book of Judges," Interpretation, 2004. (See also entire issue: Violence in the Bible, Interpretation, 2004.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Halpern, Baruch, "The Resourceful Israelite Historian: The Song of Deborah and Israelity Historiography," Harvard Theological Review, 1983.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Leneman, Helen, "Re-visioning a Biblical Story through Libretto and Music: Debora a Jaele by Ildebrando Pizzetti," Biblical Interpretation, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Na'aman, Nadav, "Literary and Topographical Notes on the Battle of Kishon (Judges 4-5)," Vetus Testamentum, 1990.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Yee, Gale A., "By the Hand of a Woman: The Metaphor of the Woman Warrior in Judges 4," Semeia, 1993.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "The Heroes in Deborah's Story," Pr Wilson Tan, Jubilee Church, Singapore, 2009.
  • "A Monster Story," the Rev. Alex Joiner, Day 1, 1996.
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Proper 28A, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2014. 2011.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," November 16, 2014, Union Presbyterian Seminary. Connections: Judges 4:1-7 and Back to Frnt and Upside Down by Claire Alexander, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 and Big Rain Coming by Katrina Germein, Matthew 25:14-30 and Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee. 2011.
• Drama:
  • "Here Comes the Judge," Pete Smithies, dramatix.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Judges

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