In Judea and the Galil they used Hebrew text, but in the diaspora they used LXX.  Jesus was clearly familiar with both and seems to have chosen the one that most clearly agreed with his point.  Recall that ANY translation involves interpretation so the LXX includes interpretation in its translation choices.

You are welcome to post any of your research on the LXX when you have it. 

Frank,
The issue of the sovereignty of God has also puzzled me when those who say they believe fully in God’s sovereignty also say that God had no other choice than to pick a woman.  Either God is able or he is not.  We cannot argue against ourselves and refute our own words and then claim to be consistent.

Cheryl, this is so clear in scripture and any attempt to paint Deborah as a judgement upon Israel is adding to the Word.

I also agree with you about Barak. He was not being weak. He was recognizing God’s provision.

The Isaiah 3 passage and the Psalms 68:11 passage were  huge indicators to me that translations have been tampered with by male translators with an agenda. It is criminal.

I would like to study more on how the LXX was used in the NT. I found some sites that give all the passages from the LXX quoted in the NT. I have not had time to go through and see which ones are quoted by Jesus …yet.

But, it is obvious that many in the early church would have understood Gen 3 from the LXX translation which is much different than what we read in our translations. It is a very interesting topic that I would love to delve into deeper.

Don,
As usual when you disagree you do is so agreeably.  Good job!

I do not see Barak as weak in faith in the least.  One, because scripture doesn’t tell us that his request was because of weak faith.  Hebrews lists him as a great man of faith.  Secondly Deborah doesn’t chide him for weak faith but warns him that if she goes into battle (as the other Judges have done and which she can do because she did) she will get the full glory when she was willing to share the glory with him.  I see Deborah’s actions as being respectful to Barak’s position and willing to share the glory of the deliverance with him.  She had the right to do that if she wanted.  But Barak’s request to have her by his side, proves to me that he sees her as God’s “man” of the hour and he gives her equal honor as he would any male leader.  In this I see Barak as a true egalitarian with no huge male ego.

I see this because scripture does not list Barak’s sin and I do not want to attribute a bad motive to someone’s heart unless God makes it clear.  Deborah chose to Judge a little differently than the other Judges and as a woman myself, I believe her heart (she was called a “mother” of Israel) showed that she was willing to respect the male ego and take her Judging outside the male territory and under a tree, and her going into battle to give Israel deliverance was willingness to share the deliverance with a subordinate male leader.  In this I give both Deborah much credit for her understanding of the male ego and Barak much credit for his unashamed egalitarianism.

I could be wrong, but I don’t think so.  I think this way of thinking makes the scriptures fit in both Judges and Hebrews.  Also understanding things this way would also make me list Barak as a great man of faith.  Thinking of it any other way would make me give Barak a miss.

Barak was a man of faith, but not perfect faith.  His problem was not too much obedience to a woman but insufficient obedience to God’s chosen leader, who happened to be a woman. 

He believed her, but wanted a little more assistance, a little more assurance.  However, he has enough trust/faith to be successful.  This is encouraging for us, God does not demand perfect faith but asks for enough faith/trust and understands our weaknesses.

The writer you quoted seems to think so: “…so He used a brave, willing woman. We can praise God for women like Deborah who are willing to be strong when the men are weak.” Note the bold words: do women actually have the power to will themselves strong and brave, but men don’t have this power? And if God is to be praised for such women, why is that evidence of a curse?

This, once again, shows the poor logic and inconsistency of male supremacist eisegesis.