Deborah

DEBORAH
Official Medal, 2011/5771
Third in the "Women of the Bible" Medal Series, by Itzhak Tordjman.

The medals in this series feature the Women of the Bible, who, together, fulfilled several significant roles in society - wife and mother, leader, counselor, prophetess and judge. Deborah was one of the seven prophetesses but she was the only "prophet" and the only woman who was also a judge. She would sit beneath a palm tree and people would come to her for advice and judgment. Successfully, she fulfilled two important roles, one as leader of the people and the other as a "mother in Israel". For 20 years, during the time of the Judges (12 century BCE), the Israelites had been suffering bitterly from the Canaanite enemy. While the Canaanites had a strong army equipped with weapons and 900 iron chariots, the Israelites were defenseless. Firm in her belief that G-d would help, Deborah courageously decided that war was necessary. She called upon Barak, Son of Abinoam, to lead the war against Sisera, the General of the Army of the Canaanite King Jabin, assuring him that the people would be victorious. Under Deborah's heroic command, a tough war followed. The Israelites fought from the Mountain of Tabor, while the Canaanites took up their position in the plain below, in the Kishon Valley. True to the prophecy of Deborah, the war came to its end with a Divine miracle. Sisera's army became immobilized, its strong chariots sinking into the mud of the Kishon Valley. Sisera himself fled for his life and was killed by Jael the Kenite with a tent peg, after she had put him to sleep with a cup of milk. Following the miraculous victory of the Israelites, Deborah composed her famous poetic Song known as the Song of Deborah, one of the longest and most impressive songs of praise in the Scriptures.

Obverse: Deborah is depicted sitting under the palm tree, where she would judge the people.

Reverse: Reverse design, common to all the medals in this series (including the 4 "Mothers in the Bible"series) depicts the eternal flame, symbolizing the continuity of Jewish women throughout history, up to the "Daughters of Jerusalem" today.

Edge: Gold and Silver medals: Smooth. Bronze and Pure Gold medals: Milled.

Designer: Portrait Side – Itzhak Tordjman Common Reverse - Dina Avinoam.

Engraving: Bulgaria.

Mint: Silver and Bronze medals: Bulgaria. Gold and Pure Gold medals: ICMC Mint.