The Haftarah for Parashat Beshalach 5762

The Victory Song of Deborah - Shirat Deborah

Read from the Book of Shoftim or Judges

Chapters 4 (The story) and 5 (the Song) for Ashkenazim, Just Chapter 5 for Sephardim.

Deborah commissions Barak to rid Israel of Cannanite oppression. The Prophetess brings about a spiritual regeneration.

The Story Line of This Week's Haftorah: 4:1-3 Bnai Yisrael sins by worshipping idols and are subdued by the Cana'anim (Cananites). 4:4,5 The Prophetess Deborah, wife of Lapidot becomes the leader of the Jews. 4:6-9 She sends Barak a prophetic message to wage war against the enemy. Hashem confuses Sisera's camp. 4:10-16 The enemy is defeated, just one person remain's Sisera. 4:17-22 Yael kills general Sisera by driving a spike through his head. 4:23-24 Bnai Yisrael kills King Yavin.

The Haftorah's Connection between the Parasha and Haftorah: The Parasha of Beshlach contains the song that Moshe sang at the Yam Suf (Sea of reads), after Hashem rescued the nation of Israel from the Egyptian army. The Haftarah contains the song that was sung after Deborah defeated the Cananites.

The Biography of Deborah: Deborah was one of 7 a Prophetess, and knew the secret of divine wisdom.
She was a Shofettet (female judge) and war leader that led Israel from foreign oppression.

She lived in the latter half of the 12th century BCE.
Her husband was called a Lapidot (Wick Maker) She prophesied for 40 years.
Deborah was independently wealthy, she owned palm trees in Jericho, Orchards in Ramah. Oil producing olive trees in Beit-el.
She sat under a palm tree in order to avoid seclusion with men.
The Mishkan was in Shilo at the time.
Six miracles occurred on this day.
She came from the tribe of Naftali
She lived in Atarot.

Timeline: This story occurred about 3125 years ago.

Map: The location of this Haftara is Mt. Tabor.

Written by: The Haftorahman - Reuven Gavriel ben Nissim Ebrahimoff 5762-2001

If you have any thoughts or questions, please contact me at: haftorahman@aol.com