Seven female prophets. Who were these? — Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Hulda and Esther.
R. Nahman said: pride does not befit women. There were two proud women, and their names are hateful. The name of one was 'bee' (Deborah), and the name of the other was 'weasel' (Huldah). It was written about 'bee' (Judges 4:6) "And she sent and she called for Barak." But she did not go to him. It was written about 'weasel' (II Kings 22:15) "Say to the man." But she did not say 'say to the king'.
a. [About] Devora it is written: “Now Devora was a prophet woman, wife of Lappidot” [literally "woman of torches/flames"](Judges 4:4). What is meant by a woman of flames? That she used to make wicks for the Temple.
b. “And she sat under a palm tree” (Judges 4:5). Why under a palm tree? — Rav Shimon ben Avshalom said: Because of seclusion [That is: to avoid being secluded with a man, she sat out in the open].
c. Another explanation: Just as a palm tree has only one heart [all of its branches issue forth from the same place] , so Israel in that generation had only one heart, devoted to their Father in heaven.
wife of Lappidot/woman of Torches. That is to say, a woman of valor, zealous in her deeds like a torch afire. And this a matter of figurative language, when it is said about a person.
She was judging. On account that she was a prophet and zealous in her deeds, this elevated status came to her: to be judging Israel.
And here it was that Devorah judged Israel. And I think because [it is written] "at that time" that when Israel returned to God she would judge them. And she went around [among the people] so that they would return to God because when [God seemed] far [from them] Israel would do evil in the eyes of God. And Devorah would not rebuke them about this, though she was a prophet.
Here it also points to what we said: [The text] said "she judged Israel at that time" [i.e. she would only sit in judgment when they had returned to God]. And it called her "a wife of Lappidot" because her husband was named Barak [lightning] and lightning and flame are close in concept or there will be a translation of "eishet lappidot" according to phrasing of a Woman of Valor ["eishet hayil"] that she was a fiery woman, and "torches" [lappidim] and "Lappidot" are one conceptually.
[But] the purpose for it [the use of the expression] is that the enormousness of her prophetic ability had already grown to the extent that she seemed [lit up like a torch] when a prophetic message arrived to her, as it is told in the Torah regarding our Teacher our Rabbi [i.e. Moshe]
תחת תומר . תמרים היו לה ביריחו , וכרמים ברמה , וזיתים בבקעת בית אל , שהוא מקום שמן ,ועפר חיוור בהר אפרים.
Under the date tree. She had date trees in Jericho, and vineyards in Ramah, and olives in the valley of Beit El, for it is the place of oil, and light-colored earth in the Mountains of Ephraim.
Between Ramah and Beit El in the Mountains of Ephraim. According to the translation of Yonatan, this is to teach us that this section is not like its simple meaning, and these are not names of the places where she lived. Rather we learn that she was a rich woman and her livelihood came from these places. And she dwelt in her city that had the name of "Atarot."
אמר רב יהודה אמר רב כל המתיהר אם חכם הוא חכמתו מסתלקת ממנו אם נביא הוא נבואתו מסתלקת ממנו מדבורה דכתיב (שופטים ה, ז) חדלו פרזון בישראל חדלו עד שקמתי דבורה שקמתי אם בישראל וגו' וכתיב (שופטים ה, יב) עורי עורי דבורה עורי עורי דברי שיר וגו'
Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: Anyone who is haughty, if he is a sage, his wisdom leaves him. If a prophet, his ability to prophesy departs from him. Of Devorah it is written (Shoftim 5:7): The villagers ceased [fighting], they ceased [fighting] in Israel, until I arose, Devora, I arose, a mother in Israel!
[according to the midrash, after Devorah said the words above, she ceased to be able to prophesy, until she was able to reawaken her ability with this verse...]
And it is written (Shoftim 5:12): Bestir, bestir yourself, Devora! Bestir, bestir yourself, speak forth a song!
(ז) ודבורה אשה נביאה מה טיבה של דבורה שנתנבאת על ישראל ושפטה אותם. .... תנא דבי אליהו אמרו בעלה של דבורה עם הארץ היה א"ל בוא ואעשה לך פתילות ולך לבית המקדש שבשילה אז יהיה חלקך בין הכשרים שבהם ותבא לחיי העולם הבא, והיא עושה פתילות והוא מוליך לבית המקדש, וג' שמות יש לו ברק ומיכאל ולפידות. ברק על שם שפניו דומות לברק. מיכאל ע"ש שהוא ממיך את עצמו. ד"א ע"ש מלאך. לפידות ע"ש שאשתו עושה פתילות והיא מתבוננת ועושה פתילות עבות כדי שיהא אורן מרובה והקב"ה בוחן לבות וכליות אמר לה דברוה את נתכוונת להרבות אורי אף אני ארבה אורך ביהודה ובירושלים כנגד י"ב שבטים, מי זכה לו ללפידות שיהא חלקו עם הכשרים ויבא לחיי העולם הבא הוי אומר דבורה אשתו, עליה נאמר חכמות נשים בנתה ביתה.
Devora was a prophet woman. What was the good that came from Devora, who prophesied for Israel and judged it? ... The Words of Eliyahu (Devai Elyahu) taught: The husband of Devorah was an "am haAretz" -- a simple man. She said to him, "Come and I will make you wicks and you will go to the Beit HaMikdash in Shiloh and therefore you will become a worthy individual and you will merit the World to Come.
And he had three names: Barak, Michael and Lappidot. Barak because his face was like lightening. Michael because he would lower (memekh) himself. Or after the angel by this name. Lappidot because his wife made him wicks.
And she is thoughtful and makes thick wicks so that the light will be very bright. God sees into people's inner selves. God said to her, "Devora, you will make my light very bright, so I will make your light brighter in Yehudah and in Yerushalayim and than any of the twelve tribes.
Who enabled Lappidot to find a place with worthy individuals and merit the World to Come? Of Devora his wife it is said: The wisdom of women built her house.