Judge Deborah with O.T. Scholar, Sandra Richter, PhD
The Book of Judges narrates one of the most chaotic and morally dark eras of Israel's story. Into this morally-ambiguous time comes one of the most unlikely leaders of the biblical text—the prophet Deborah. Also a wife, mother, priest, and judge, Deborah responds to her call and transforms chaos into order by leading Israel in one of the most pivotal victories of her time.
Dr. Sandy Richter
Sandy Richter is the Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. Richter earned her PhD in Hebrew Bible from Harvard University and her MA in Theological Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She is the author of The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament (IVP) and the much-loved series of video Bible study curriculums that have grown from that project. She has taught at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wesley Biblical Seminary, and Wheaton College. As her many students will tell you, Sandy’s particular gift is bringing the real people and real places of the biblical narrative to life. Richter is a member of the New International Version (NIV) Translation Committee, she has spent many years bringing student groups to Israel to study historical geography and field archaeology, and in her technical work often writes on the intersections between Syro-Palestinian archaeology, linguistics and Bible. Richter is also deeply involved in environmental theology. Her book, The Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the Environment and Why It Matters (IVP), draws together more than a decade of technical work and activism. Sandy is married to Steven Tsoukalas and they share two perfect daughters, Noël and Elise. She is a sought-after speaker in many contexts, look for her newest curriculum on Deborah and the Book of Judges with HarperChristian Resources, and her forthcoming commentary on Deuteronomy with Eerdmans.