“An unusual woman sat under an unusual tree dispensing justice”
-- Robert D. Branson, “Judges: A Commentary”
And it was after the death of Joshua
when Israel went to bed with their idols
and everyone did what was right in her own eyes.
And it was after Sisera came against the people
like a hammer on a tent peg when Israel
cried out, like za’aq, “Wake up Deborah! Wake up!”
and I came criss cross applesauce under
the palm tree to school the warlords
in their battleplans like naughty children.
And it was much after God’s anger grew hot
when I held court in the shade as the last judge
of deliverance-- did not Sisera perish
and bleed from his brain because Jael came against
him with a hammer and a tent peg? Most blessed
among women, always welcome in my war-room.
And it was after this that my song was cried out,
not like za’aq, in the streets and recorded in record
time. I could hear it from under my palm tree.
And the land knew peace for forty years.
A note from the author:
za'aq: This is the Hebrew verb for “to cry out” or “to summon help” and was frequently used in the context of calling out to God. I found it particularly useful considering that Israel often looked to the judges instead of relying on God.