Deborah the Warrior’s Sword Book Mark

Deborah the Warrior’s Sword Book Mark

Materials:

− Card stock, one piece for each child
− Colorful yarn or embroidery thread, one 6-inch strand for each child
− Scissors
− Aluminum foil
− Pens or pencils
− Markers
− Hole punch
− Stick glue

Related Scripture:

Deborah the Prophetess Leads the Battle

Judges 4 (with some lengthy geographical facts eliminated)

1 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD... 2 So the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan. Sisera was commander of his army. 3 Because he had 900 chariots fibed with iron and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the LORD for help.

4 Now Deborah, a prophet, was leading Israel at that ]me. 5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. 6 She sent for warrior Barak and said to him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. 7 I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”

8 Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”

9 “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 There Barak summoned thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him.

11 Now Heber the Kenite had le0 the other Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, Moses’ brother‐in‐law, and pitched his tent by the great tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh.

13 Sisera summoned all his men and his 900 chariots fibed with iron.

14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him. 15 At Barak’s advance, the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.

16 Barak pursued the chariots and army, and all Sisera’s troops fell by the sword; not a man was le0.

Preparation:

Create a sword template that will take up most space on an index card. A fatter sword with a handle works best. Also, cut the tip blunt in case students are too tempted to use this for something other than a book mark!

Instructions:

Have students follow these steps:

1. Using pens, trace around the sword template onto their sheet of cardstock.

2. Then trace around the template on 2 pieces of aluminum foil. Turn the template over to trace on the second piece of foil.

3. Cut out the sword.

4. Cut out the aluminum foil pieces. Students should try not to wrinkle the foil, though it is not the end of the world if they do.

5. Using stick glue, glue the pieces of foil to the sword on either side.

6. Press hard and allow to dry.

At the handle of each sword, punch a hole using the hole puncher.

Give out the pieces of yarn and have students thread them through and tie a knot
at the top. The sword bookmarks are complete!