In the entire Bible, only two women are called “blessed among women.” In this song, Deborah calls Jael “blessed among women” (24), and later Elizabeth calls Mary “blessed among women” (Lk 1:42). These two women are honored for their solidarity with the oppressed and for their confidence that God topples the powerful from their thrones. Deborah and Jael show solidarity with their people’s suffering, which is why they are seen as heroines and mothers of Israel. This poem also highlights an irony between Deborah and Sisera’s mother—two women with similar roles and traits, but opposite. On one side, we have Deborah, a true representative of God.
On the other hand, we have Sisera’s anonymous mother, who symbolizes the other gods. Deborah’s wisdom, which recognizes and affirms the victory of the God of Israel over the pagan gods, is contrasted with the supposed knowledge of the wisest of women, who reassures Sisera’s mother by believing that he is distributing the spoils (30). Ultimately, the audience must decide whom to follow: the mother of Israel (God) or the mother of Sisera (gods).