Deborah - Prophet and Judge - Judges 4:4-5

Was Deborah a Priest?

4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

Deborah was a judge and prophet and thus an important leader in Israel. While it may have been unusual for a woman to be a judge in Israel, it was perfectly allowable and sanctioned by God. Deborah's role is perfectly in line with other Bible verses prohibiting women from fulfilling the role of priest and bishop or usurping the authority of the man. A prophet and judge are not the same as an apostle, bishop or priest. Some individuals fulfilled more than one role, such as Samuel who was a prophet, judge and a priest. But, Deborah was not a priest or bishop. She did not carry out sacrifices or take on a position of authority within the sanctuary. As a prophet, she relayed messages from God to other leaders in Israel, such as Barak, who was directed to make war against Israel's enemies. Deborah gave him these instructions, but it was through her role as a prophet. This is similar to the way the end-time prophet Ellen G. White operated. She would talk authoritatively as a prophet, giving instruction to church leaders, but she did not take on the position of elder and thus usurp the authority of the man in the headship office of the church.

Huldah was also a prophet (2 Chronicles 34:22-28). Many other women were prophets. Deborah was not a priest. Her roles were in perfect agreement with the rest of the Bible.

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