Since the tent she was staying in was a womans tent, there were no weapons nearby. He was such a coward. God gave the Israelites a seemingly impossible defeat against the superior Canaanite army thus giving them access to the fertile plains of Jezreel and Esdraelon. Dont get me wrongJesus never broke rules to be rude or needlessly provoke people. Only an act of God would make this plan work. It can be easy to think that we must possess great skills in order to be used by the Lord to do great things for His kingdom. For example, she gave him milk when he asked for a little water and covered him with blankets when he lay down to rest, being weary from battle (Judges 4:18-19). If Jaels husband were to catch her alone with Sisera, he could accuse her of adultery and have her stoned to death. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. Quietly, Jael took a mallet and drove a tent peg through Sisera's temple into the ground while he was sleeping, killing him instantly. Why is it important for us to know? That would make the mountain goat literally a "benefiter of practical skill.". She was not about to play around with this evil man. Then Sisera said to Jael, Go stand at the entrance to the tent. The husband of Jael is Heber the Kenite. Blessed is she among women in tents. Barak and his men defeated Siseras army, but Sisera left his chariot and ran away on foot, ran away to the tent where a woman named Jael lived. Top 7 Bible Verses For Those That Have Been Abused, "Sondergaard is a member of the New Apostolic Reformation cult. She was discerning in confronting David and kept him out of sin. Thus Deborahs prophesy, that Sisera would die at the hand of a woman, was fulfilled. In short, Jael wasn't going to miss. The tent peg went through the side of his head and into the ground. She also accepted Hegai's advice on what to was to request before going in to see the king (Esther 2:15). He literally chooses: In other words, God chooses imperfect people to be conduits of His will so that He can extend His grace to them and display His glory through them (2nd Corinthians 12:9-10). Heber is noticeably absent, probably killed on the battlefield. T. Nelson and Sons. In fact, the events are mentioned as taking place in the "days of Jael" - an honour to have the date identified with her - and she is called " the most blessed among women " for her actions. One day, I was sobbing and crying out to God that I wouldnt have a boy. Jal was an ally by blood of the Israelitish nation; [Sisera, the general of] their chief oppressor, who had mightily oppressed them for the space of twenty years, now lay defenseless before her; and he was, moreover, one of those whom Israel was bound by the command of Jehovah to extirpate. He gives us certain skills and gifts for a reason, and we should always be on the lookout for ways to use them. (LogOut/ Key Scripture: Judges 4-5 (New International Version) Bible Character Study on Abigail. To take a refugee into her tent, show him hospitality and make him feel safe, and then kill him was an act of gruesome treachery. Sisera was, however, unaware that Hebers wife, Jael, whose tent he ran to, sympathized with the Israelites because of the twenty years of oppression by Jabin, his commander Sisera, and his 900 iron chariots. Be patient, and wait for the opportune time when God will use you, while staying faithful and steadfast to His laws and commands. Jael takes her wooden hammer used to erect her tent and a tent peg which held the tent ropes and with one expert blow drives the peg into the side of Siseras head pinning him to the ground as he dies. That means that if anything, Jael should have been an ally to Sisera. http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9279-kenites, Jael: Bible, Jewish Womens Archive, Tikva Frymer-Kensky. Is It Ok for Christians to Follow Zodiac Signs? Jael is a woman of action - she goes out to meet Sisera, initiates conversation with him, invites him into her tent, and covers him up. The example of Jael, however, show It can be easy to think that we must possess great skills in order to be used by the Lord to do great things for His kingdom. He escapes with his life, running 5 miles to Jaels tent of asylum, assured of his safety and protection at the hands of his friends. would be Jael. Jael [N] [H] [S] mountain-goat, the wife of Heber the Kenite ( Judges 4:17-22 ). Israels Judges actually had the responsibility to act as a military leader and thus when war came Deborah led the out-numbered, badly equipped Israelite troops to a miraculous victory. Her experience shows how God can maneuver events to fulfill prophecy. Further to this, at this point in time women did not usually go to war; therefore, Baraks insistence that Deborah came to battle with him was hugely unorthodox. It would not have been wise to allow Barak to find Sisera in her tent. The king, trusting Ehud, obliges. You could even say the fight wasnt fair. Instead, they are members of a different taxonomical genus than "true" goats. The name Jael comes from the verb (ya'al), to profit or be useful: The verb (ya'al) means to profit, benefit or be of any (or much) practical use. She will be blessed above all women (Judges 5:24) because of her heroic act. He always did it for the sake of challenging relationally abusive behavior and freeing the oppressed. This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. There is no doubt that the tent Jael invited Sisera into was built by her own hands. The Israelite army had been called to battle by God. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Have you ever read any of Davids prayers? He commanded Jael to watch over the tent and tell any inquirers that no one was there. The woman lost her will to live due to her insurmountable shame. She is the only female judge, the only one to be called a prophet, and the only one described as performing a judicial function. Made of cells , at least one 2. The name itself signifies a wild mountain goat - apropos for a Bedouin's wife whose feet and character stay sturdy amongst the harsh crevices, rocks and unforgiving surroundings of her society. Together, Heber and Jael live under the rich umbrella of safety and wealth afforded under a ratified peace treaty between themselves and General Sisera. For Moses, it was the staff in his hand. In those days when men had multiple wives, each woman had a tent for herself. Colossians 2:13-15 paints a beautiful picture of the victory Jesus gaveand continues to give usover sin: And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. Jael proved herself to be resourceful and courageous. You will need to know the difference. As horrible as this was, we have to appreciate Jaels wit and bravery. She commanded Barak to fight against Jabin's army in the Valley of Jezreel along the Kishon River. Moreover, she has a masculine name and Sisera addresses her using . It was full fat milk in a large bowl. This was the best way to secure hospitality and protection. The Song of Deborah recounts: Jael Articles. Barak, the leader of the army, needed some spiritual support to approach the army. In biblical times, women were responsible for all the elements of repairing and pitching tents. The fact is that they will not let up until they have accomplished their goals. So what about you, lovely? God Redeems the Lost. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. God used the evil in the hearts of Josephs brothers to make his dream come to pass. Her grieving husband cuts her body up into twelve pieces, and sends it out to the 12 tribes of Israel as a stark reminder of the lust and violence that were the Canaanites, and to severely warn them against co-habiting with such mongrels. Josephus, Flavius. However, she is not the only woman of valour detailed in this particular part of the Bible. It was effective, but it was also violent and gory. Since many of the Jael/Judith panel . They reconciled, and warily journeyed home through the land of Canaan staying the night with an old man of the friendly Ephraim tribe. Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 10:00, "What are the most popular Jewish baby names in Israel? Heber was a descendant of Jethro, the priest of Midian and the father-in-law of Moses. Lets follow His (and Jaels) example and not get so caught up in following religious and cultural rules that we miss the calling of God to challenge the evil and oppression in the world. Eve means 'life-bearer'. Barak said to Deborah, I will go and do this if you will go with me. They were familiar to the Israelites through the connection of Jethro to Moses, and their skill as metalworkers was welcomed wherever they camped. Adaptations to windblown deserts include double rows of eyelashes, the ability to close the nostrils, and wide-spreading soft feet. They knew very little back ", "forgot to address your question, "How do you people dress and feed yourselves?" 1 Characteristics of Mary, Mother of Jesus. ", Frymer-Kensky, Tikva. This shows how desperate he was to not be found. She was married to Heber, the Kenite. Your email address will not be published. Siseras murder was a major act of treachery on Jaels part. More positively, Jael was included in sets of the female Nine Worthies, such as the prints by Hans Burgkmair. But Jael also knows that her faithful God will break the bonds of slavery as long as the Israelites humble themselves, and turn back to the One True God of their nation. [9][3] Jael was then the woman with the honor of defeating Jabin's army, as prophesied by Deborah, and she showed Barak Sisera's dead body in her tent. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I will make Sisera, the commander of King Jabins army, come to you. She stretched her hand to the tent peg; Women of the Bible, Jean E. Syswerda, Zondervan Publishers, 1999. I heard the Lord say, your little girls name is Jael, she will be a symbol of the bondage I will break in your marriage. Today, this godly woman, along with the heroine Deborah the Judge, are part of the recorded history of the nation of Israel and hailed as women who courageously obeyed God, even at the risk of their own lives. I will make Sisera, his chariots, and his army come to the Kishon River. And Jael took the stake and put it on his temple and struck it with a hammer. We dont know if Jael originally intended to kill Sisera. The wife of Heber the Kenite, We would hope our calling would not be as dramatic as Jaels duty was. She made him comfortable. He made requests of his hostessbad manners for a guest. They traveled whenever they could find work. Jael may have seen this actual body part in her country, or at the very least heard about it. Remember the story of Lot and the angels? Jael is perceptive enough to understand why this is happening: she equates the suffocating oppression her people are enduring due to Israel's lack of faith and worship. Dont be afraid. So Sisera went into Jaels tent, and she covered him with a blanket, Sisera said to Jael, Go stand at the entrance to the tent. Be our patron for as little as one dollar a month: https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Jael.html, The Passion of the Christ and the Theory of Everything, Stars and fractals: the many hearts of wisdom, How the Bible relates to Homer like Ape to Dog, How circumcision created the modern world, The many Hebrew roots of the Greek language. They did not know what to do. As predicted when Baraks army battled against Siseras, they totally kicked butt- to the point that all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword [and] not a man was left. She put the tent peg to the side of Siseras head and hit it with a hammer. Tweet. Martin Luther was particularly fond of Judith and held her up as an example of virtue and godly living. He was the enemy. Jael showed Sisera great hospitality. She will be blessed above all women, On the day that the Israelites defeated Sisera, Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song, Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The way she killed Sisera was really gruesome and inglorious. Jael is perceptive enough to understand why this is happening: she equates the suffocating oppression her people are enduring due to Israels lack of faith and worship. The Israelites and Kenites were always friendly to one another. On the day of battle, God caused it to start raining. When not shown in the act of killing Sisera, she carries her hammer and sometimes the spike, making her easy to identify. (Mark 3:1-6). God is the the most powerful force in the universe, more powerful than Evil. One point to notice is that Sisera went into Jaels tent, not the tent of her husband. In any case, it would still be disastrous for Jaels reputation for Sisera to be alone with her. Esther's narrative depicts a young girl maturing into her God-given duty and setting an example for all time. From the time Sisera entered Jaels camp, each of her moves were calculated and strategic. Heber made weapons. Jabin's army was led by Sisera (Judg. The term Midianites is derived from Midian who was a son of Abraham and Keturah. He remained in her tent though his presence there endangered everyone in the encampment. Jael went on to show Sisera every possible kindness. During the battle, the Lord confused Sisera and his army and chariots. She would have had no settled home, moving from place to place as a way of obtaining food, finding pasture for livestock, or otherwise making a living. Jael is best known for killing Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, in a bloody, gruesome manner. When he asked for water, she gave him milk. Ezra Glenn's song "Sisera Sleeps" from 2020's "Two-Heel Sandwich" refers to Jael's actions. Something to consider:The devil whispered in my ear, Youre not strong enough to withstand the storm. Today I whispered in the devils ear, I am the storm.. Jael was the typical woman taking care of the daily affairs of her home. She has much to teach us about the fact that God can and will use anybody as His chosen vessel. They are shaggy animals, with white coats and moderately long horns. And when it comes to slaying spiritual dragons, this is the kind of courage that God wants us to have. [7] Jael, however, sympathized with the Israelites because of the twenty-year period of harsh oppression inflicted on them by Jabin, his commander Sisera, and his nine hundred iron chariots. Jael, Shawna R.T. Atteberry, http://www.shawnaatteberry.com/2008/12/11/436/. If she did not act, Deborahs prophecy from God would not have been fulfilled. Yet this is exactly what happened. Schenk notes that Sisera was Jael's guest, "was in the sanctuary of her home, and protected by the laws of hospitality. Thank-you for such detail on the story of Jael. (The Palm Tree of Deborah is between the cities of Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ep, to Barak, The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Go and gather 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Proud member In those days, women made their own tents and pitched them. Jaels tent is seen as sacred ground, and this is why Sisera enters: he believes himself to be safe. Just before the battle had begun a downpour caused the battleground to become deep mud and Deborah took advantage of the circumstances, thus the Israelite foot soldiers were able to overtake the Canaanite iron chariots. The Hebrew ya'el means ibex, a nimble, sure-footed mountain goat native to that region. Sometimes in spiritual warfare, we can mistake our spouse, children, friends, family, and coworkers for the enemy. Obedient: one of the main characteristics of Esther in the Bible is her biddability. At her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; He fell asleep and while he slept, she killed him. The war wasnt won by this one deed, but this was the beginning of the end of the Canaanites reign over Israel. 1.1 Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was Willing. The common jackal's face is brown or red with white shades across its cheeks and throat. Heber, Jaels husband, had a good relationship with the Caananites and thats why Sisera felt comfortable to find refuge in their camp. And Jael said, "Strengthen in me today, Lord, my arm on account of you and your people and those who hope in you." And not just any milk. She drove a tent peg through his temple. If anyone comes by and asks you, Is anyone in there? say, No (Judges 4:20) But Jael found a tent peg and a hammer. Note that although the character Jael is feminine, the name Jael is the same as the masculine word for mountain goat, whereas the feminine version of it, Jaalah, belongs to a male character. Jael understandably feared for her body and her life. Quite the opportunist, Heber travels north from Judah to Canaan, taking Jael with him. This is not a story about physical strength but about strength of commitment to God. Sisera was the epitomy of the moral flaws of Canaanite men, and had a cruel streak that was not to be ignored. All rights reserved. He ordered her to lie to protect his life. Made their own tents and pitched them her feet he sank, he fell asleep and while he,! Of adultery and have her stoned to death be ignored son of Abraham and Keturah across its cheeks and.! Ezra Glenn 's song `` Sisera Sleeps '' from 2020 's `` Two-Heel Sandwich '' refers to,... Life-Bearer & # x27 ; s narrative depicts a young girl maturing into her God-given duty and setting an for... 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