Qishon Yael

to act. Deborah initiated, organized, and planned the military campaign against the great Canaanite general, Sisra, in order to conquer the valley of Jezre’el. After Israel had been subjugated to the Canaanites for twenty years, Deborah decided to change things.

Deborah had no intention of personally leading the troops in battle, however, after some pressure; she agreed to be present at the military camp of Israel. Deborah plays a major role in the military campaign, deciding the number of warriors needed, planning strategy, defining military parameters and goals. “Go and gather your men to Mount Tavor, and take with you ten thousand men of the children of Naftali and of the children of Zebulon and I will draw out to you to the wadi of Qishon

Samson – great warrior and judge, master of guerrilla warfare

Samson was a great warrior, the strongman of the Bible. He served as a judge and spiritual leader for the people of Israel for twenty years. These were hard times; the southern part of Israel was controlled by the Philistines. The people of Israel felt downtrodden and powerless to resist. They were full of desperation and feared the Philistines.

Unlike other leaders, Samson did not lead the people in battle; perhaps they were simply not ready for it. Instead, he fought a one-man battle and engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Philistines. He was careful to make it look like a personal vendetta so the Philistines would not retaliate and use collective punishment against the entire people of Israel.

To learn their ways, he lived among the Philistines, married their women, and played their games. Samson’s tactics were unusual and his behavior a bit unorthodox, yet he is viewed as a hero. These were unusual times and unusual methods were necessary to raise the spirits of the people. The rabbis of the Talmud refer to him as “the protector of Israel” and “Samson the Brave.” He is said to have been a selfless man who never used his position or his power for personal

“And the spirit of the Lord came upon him and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them” (Judges, 14). After he agreed to be taken away, to avoid Philistine retaliation against the community of Israel, he was tied up and taken captive. The Philistines shouted at him and offended him, “And the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands melted from off his hands, and he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put out his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men with it” (Judges, 15). We can just imagine the powerful circular motions he must have used in combating so many men at