Allonbacuth
The above word is the name that was given to the place where Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried. It means “oak of weeping”. Genesis 35:8 is nearly the only passage telling us anything at all about her life. There is one other reference in 24:59 simply reporting that when Rebekah left home to become the wife of Isaac that “her nurse” went with her.
I’m thinking that Deborah’s impact on the lives of Isaac and Rebekah must have been significant. Why else would God choose to inspire Moses to write her name down in the book along with the notation of her death and the evident sorrow her passing caused this great patriarchal household?
As far as we have been told, God never spoke to Deborah. There is no account of angels appearing to her. She is not connected with any specific miracle or wonder God wrought in those ancient days nor is she held up as an example of leadership or valor or courage in the face of adversity or any other such thing.
Having long been a student of the Bible, there are so many times that I wished to have a little more information about some event recorded in scripture. Well, wouldn’t you like to know what angels look like and whether they really guard us all the time? What did Jesus or the apostles look like? What was it like being on the ark full of animals for an entire year? Could the Israelites see fish in the waters of the Red Sea as they passed through it on dry land? Exactly what will heaven be like for us when we get there?
God has not told us about any of those things. But He did tell us about Deborah. He did have the name “Allonbacuth” written into the book for us to read for ourselves.
Obviously I could be wrong, but I have the impression that this woman was honored who evidently served humbly and quietly behind the scenes, so to speak, while the Lord of heaven itself was working out His great plan to save lost humanity. Jesus Himself would later say, “the greatest in the kingdom, will be servant of all”.
Why do you think He put Deborah in the book?