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Expanded Wall Label:
The Scarlet Thread and The Golden Cord: Thirteen Women of the Hebrew Scriptures
Edgar G. Boevé
The writers of the Hebrew Scriptures give great attention to the women. They were totally involved in the lives of their men and are often the driving force of their lives together. These women were the mothers of the leaders of lsrael, God's chosen people. The scarlet thread defines the place of those women in the royal line of David. Other women were essential to saving the nation of Israel, therefore, the golden cord.
The intent of the thirteen fabric art works is to interpret the essential character of each woman who contributed to the royal line of the preservation of lsrael by texture, color and design through diverse fabrics gathered from around the world.
Deborah
Deborah was Israel's only woman Judge and she became a war leader in the battle against Jabin, King of the Caananites. Her story is told twice in the Book of Judges, both in prose and in the Song of Deborah.
Deborah sat under a palm tree, the symbol of victory, where she resolved disputes and adjudicated law cases. When she saw how Jabin oppressed the people she summoned Barak, a General in the army. She instructed him to gather an army of 10,000 men to defeat Jabin. The enemy was led by Sisera with a force of 900 iron chariots.
When Barak became fearful at meeting this enemy, Deborah took over. She knew that God was with them and with military astuteness she lured Sisera with his chariots into the Kishon Wadi, a dry river bed. Torrential rains came causing the enemy to wallow in the mud, making their
chariots useless. The Israelites with only their swords defeated the forces of Sisera. He escaped the river's torrent and found rest in the tent of Jael another woman. While he was sleeping Jael drove a tent peg through his temple killing him. Judges 5 records the Song of Deborah as she
receives credit for the victory and peace reigned for forty years.
The Golden Cord continues.