Matthew Poole and continuators on Judges 4:4

4 ¶ And Deborah a prophetess , the wife of Lapidoth , she judged Israel at that time.

As there were Men-Prophets, so there were also Women-Prophetesses, as Miriam, Exod. 15. 20. Huldah, 2 King. 22. 14. and divers others; but the word Prophets or Prophetesses is very ambiguous in both Testaments; sometimes being used of persons extraordinarily Inspired by God, and endowed with a power of working Miracles, and foretelling things to come; and sometimes of Persons endowed with special, though not miraculous gifts or graces, for the better understanding of, and discoursing about the Word and Mind of God, for praising of God, or the like; of which see 1 Chron. 25. 1. 1 Cor. 11. 5. and 14. 1, 3, 4, &c. And of this sort were the Sons of the Prophets, or such who were bred in the Schools of the Prophets, who are oft called Prophets, as 1 Sam. 10. 5, 10, 11, 12. See also 1 King. 18. 4. and 19. 10. And because we read nothing of Deborah's miraculous actions, peradventure she was only a Woman of eminent Holiness and Prudence, and Knowledg of the Holy Scriptures, by which she was singularly qualified for the Judging of the People according to the Laws of God. If it be alledged, that she foresaw and foretold the following Victory; so did all the Sons of the Prophets foresee and foretel Elijah's translation, 2 King. 2. 3, 5. which yet were not extraordinary Prophets.

Or, a Woman of Lapidoth; and so Lapidoth is not the name of a man, but of the place of her Birth or Abode.

i. e. Determined Causes and Controversies arising among the Israelites as is implied v. 5. And this Iabin might suffer to be done, especially by a Woman; and the frequent discharge of this part of the Judges Office, whereby she gained great Power and Authority with the People, did notably (though not observed by the Tyrant), prepare the way for her sliding into the other part of her Office, which was to defend and rescue the People from their Enemies.

Marginal references: Heb. a woman, a prophetess.