Albert Barnes Commentary Judges 4:5

"And she dwelt under the palm-tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in the hill-country of Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment." — Judges 4:5 (ASV)

She dwelt - Rather, “she sat,” namely, to judge the people (Judges 4:10), but not in the usual place, “the gate” (Ruth 4:1–2; Proverbs 22:22). It suited her character, and the wild, unsafe times better, that she should sit under a palm tree in the secure heights of Mount Ephraim, between Ramah and Bethel (Judges 20:33 note). This verse shows that the Judges exercised the civil as well as military functions of rulers (1 Samuel 7:15–17).