THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL. 109

encouraged and assisted to root out idolatry from the
land.

George. But it was a pity they had a woman to
judge them ; she would not be able to fight.

Grandfather. You are right so far. Though her
head was superior to that of any of the men of Israel,
in the strength of her arm she was inferior to them.
But she did better than if she had fought. She prepared
the people for going to war; she provided a leader for
them, and taught him how to act. She called to her
Barak from Kedesh-naphtali, and she gave to him the
command from God, that Barak was to collect ten thou-
sand men, and march towards Mount Tabor.

George. How did Deborah prepare the people for
going to war ?

Grandfather. She prepared the Israelites for going to
war by causing them to put away their idols, and re-
turn to the Lord God of their fathers. Ten thousand
men was to be the amount of Barak’s army, though he
was to be opposed by a great multitude, and nine hun-
dred chariots of iron. The leader of this multitude
was Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army. To encourage
Barak, Deborah told him that the Lord was to draw
Sisera to him to the river Kishon, there to deliver him
into his hand. Yet Barak refused to go unless Deborah
accompanied him. This might be because he regarded
her presence as an earnest that God would bless his
undertaking ; or he might desire her presence on account
of his soldiers, who all regarded Deborah with so much

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