God is the the most powerful force in the universe, more powerful than Evil. While running away, he found refuge in the tent of a woman, Jael. So when God said that Barak and Israel would defeat the Canaanite army, Deborah believed God. In an astounding turn of events, the Shunammite woman gave birth to a child as promised, but, several years later, he died. She commanded Barak to fight against Jabin's army in the Valley of Jezreel along the Kishon River. Ephesians 6:12 puts it like this: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. And to protect his interests, Heber quite probably informs General Sisera of Baraks battle plan, and is richly rewarded with a commission to build 900 iron chariots. Judges 4 tells us that God sold Israel into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan because the Israelites were doing what was evil in His sight. You can also download it and share it with anyone else you feel would benefit from it: In the beginning of Judges 4 we are told that the children of Israel had been harshly oppressed by Jabin, the King of Canaan, for twenty years as a result of their sin (Judges 4:1-3). Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and reviseded.). Medieval images of Jael, mostly in illuminated manuscripts, depicted her as both a defender of Israel and a prefiguration of the Virgin Mary. (Joshua 20:1-7) Sisera ultimately chooses this tent, this family, this land of protection to flee to for safety after the Canaanites disasterous defeat. Deborah arose to become a mother in Israel. Jael shamed the enemy and helped deliver Gods people from their oppressors. If anyone comes by and asks you, Is anyone in there? say, No, But Jael found a tent peg and a hammer. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. And when God steps in, His goal is to bring an end to the battle once and for all. And Sisera had no reason to be. He was the enemy. ( Judges 4:9) For her role, Jael was praised as the "most blessed of women." Judges 5:24. In the narrative about the military heroine Deborah, Yael kills Sisera, the Canaanite general of King Jabin, after he escapes from the battle with Deborah's general, Barak. would be Jael. Jael probably had her own tent separate from her husbands living quarters. She understood that God alone is able to do what he says he will do. Sisera was pursued by the people of Israel at the request of Deborah the Judge. 1.1 Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was Willing. 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. Lead them to Mount Tabor. Cultivate gratitude to God first and foremost. "[12], There is also a reference to the story of Jael in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. 1 March 2009. Judges 4:6 tells us that she summoned a man named Barak, who God chose to be the leader of Israels army against Jabins forces. She quietly went to Sisera. This was the best way to secure hospitality and protection. What was even more unexpected is that this woman was not actually Hebrew, being a Kenite. She covered him with a rug to hide and comfort him. Jael [N] [H] [S] mountain-goat, the wife of Heber the Kenite ( Judges 4:17-22 ). Made of cells , at least one 2. God used the evil fight between Rachel and Leah to further the promise he had made to Abraham. First, Sisera should have gone to Hebers tent. He insisted that Deborah, the prophetess and God-appointment judge in Israel, go with him. Barak and his men defeated Siseras army, but Sisera left his chariot and ran away on foot (Judges 4:15) but Sisera got away ran away to the tent where a woman named Jael lived. When Sisera asked for water, she gave him milk. The country seems to be confused about censorship, free speech, and any An American in Amman: A U.S. They did not know what to do. And her ambitions can make her ruthless, greedy, and insensitive. 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. She did not need to have her trust in God confirmed by the responses of others. Why shouldnt he take refuge in the tent of a woman uninvolved in the war? That is why Sisera ran to Jaels tent (Judges 4:17) because he believed that he would be safe there. While there, the leering inhabitants of the city noticed her beauty in the marketplace, banged on the door of the old man, and demanded he hand her over to them. I can laugh now, but at that time in my life I had only been burned by men. When he asked for water, she gave him milk. Not a man was left, except Sisera that is, who managed to dismount his horse and run away on foot to the tent of Jael (Judges 4:17). Jael was a woman in the Bible who helped the Israelites subdue Jabin the Canaanite king by single-handedly killing the commander of his army, Sisera. Newsom and Ringe consider her a survivor caught up in her husband's politics. Hever the Kenite (.mw-parser-output .script-hebrew,.mw-parser-output .script-Hebr{font-family:"SBL Hebrew","SBL BibLit","Taamey Ashkenaz","Taamey Frank CLM","Frank Ruehl CLM","Ezra SIL","Ezra SIL SR","Keter Aram Tsova","Taamey David CLM","Keter YG","Shofar","David CLM","Hadasim CLM","Simple CLM","Nachlieli",Cardo,Alef,"Noto Serif Hebrew","Noto Sans Hebrew","David Libre",David,"Times New Roman",Gisha,Arial,FreeSerif,FreeSans} ) was, according to the Book of Judges in the Bible, a descendant of Reuel the Midianite, the father-in-law of Moses. She manipulated the trust that Sisera had for her. The railways and other public transportation systems, such as their trains and buses, for instance, are orderly and also extremely efficient and punctual. It went against everything she knew about hospitality, something hugely important to her culture at the time. So, what can we learn from this courageous womans story? The Lord will allow a woman to defeat Sisera, Barak and his men attacked Sisera. She is considered one of the outstanding female warriors of the Bible next to Deborah. Heber was a descendant of Jethro, the priest of Midian and the father-in-law of Moses. The wife of Heber the Kenite, She feeds him some milk and hides him under a rug. Those were just about enough to bring her enemy down. When Sisera got to her tent she invited him in and he entered without fear because there was peace between Jabinand the house of Heber. She realizes that her womanhood is actually a strength to be leveraged in her leadership, not a weakness to be discarded. Due to Jaels actions, the children of Israel won their battle for freedom against King Jabin and had rest [in their land] for forty years. II Kings chapter 4, where we find her story, is also the haftarah portion which corresponds to parshat Vayera which tells of the miraculous birth of Abraham and Sarah's son Isaac as well as the binding of Isaac.There are at least three clear parallels: hospitality, a prophecy to a barren woman that she will bear a son, and the near-death experience of that son. Obedient: one of the main characteristics of Esther in the Bible is her biddability. (Notice the similarity to Lot offering up his daughter in the annals of Sodom and Gomorrah: Genesis 19:4-8). Her action appears to show her faithfulness to the Covenant people of Israel which, as mentioned, the Kenite clan had identification through Moses. She split and struck through his temple. So here Jael sits, with the commander of the Canaanite army in her tent, and she has a decision to make. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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). The woman lost her will to live due to her insurmountable shame. He fell asleep and while he slept, she killed him. The name itself signifies a wild mountain goat apropos for a Bedouins wife whose feet and character stay sturdy amongst the harsh crevices, rocks and unforgiving surroundings of her society. The Kenites were a Nomadic tribe of people who lived near Canaan. http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9279-kenites, Jael: Bible, Jewish Womens Archive, Tikva Frymer-Kensky. That would make the mountain goat literally a "benefiter of practical skill.". The Bible records a number of cases of intermarriage; the father-in-law of Moses was apparently a Kenite, but it is not clear whether this was Jethro. The tent peg went through the side of his head and into the ground. Her right hand to the workman's hammer, During Jaels adult life, the Israelites were being horrifically oppressed for over twenty years by the Canaanites King Jabin. 4:2). Change). But only the chief man of the household could offer ritual hospitality. Sisera was a warrior. During the battle, the Lord confused Sisera and his army and chariots. So the Israelites became stronger and stronger until they defeated King Jabin of Canaan. 5 Things You Should Know about the ESV Bible Translation. It literally translates to "he shall ascend or go up". At that very moment Barak came by Jaels tent, looking for Sisera. We can learn much from this Old Testament lady of faith. 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Heber made weapons. He always did it for the sake of challenging relationally abusive behavior and freeing the oppressed. Reference Library, Anchor Bible Publishers, 1998. Jael was a woman who understood this. For more info, you can check out her blog here. All the Women of the Bible Jael : https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/all-women-bible/Jael, Bible Study Monthly, http://www.biblefellowshipunion.co.uk/2006/Jul_Aug/JaelSisa.htm, Commentary On The Book of Judges 2., Dr. Peter Pett BA, BD (Hons-London) DD, She disarmed him with her words of reassurance. Appearance of Other Varieties And if we really want to see victory, we have to really put away sin. A guest, once ritually invited into the home, had to be protected and cared for, even at the expense of everyone else in the house even at the expense of giving the woman of the house to the guest of honor for his lascivious pleasure. And Jael took the stake and put it on his temple and struck it with a hammer. She used the resources given to her in this situation by God. Midian has been referred to as a geographical area, a tribe or a confederation of tribes brought together for worship purposes. She was married to Heber, the Kenite. Deborah had great reason to applaud Jaels actions in her poem. Her family made and sold tools in farming, some domestic tools and weapons as well. She was not about to play around with this evil man. Grow, develop and die 5. Step 1 Start. You are not a second-class citizen, and you have the right to assert Gods will. The Israelite army, however, had strategically no chance of success since they were sorely lacking in soldiers and weaponry. They had the latest technology in the form of 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. Israel was at war with the Canaanites. Here are five strong women with a summary of their story.. Jael - Judges 4. Jael knew who the real enemy was in the fight and she also knew that battles can be very unpredictable. Jael was a tent-dweller. And if she did not act, Israel would not have been saved. 3. Incidentally, this historic ground was located in Nephtali a land set apart for fleeing inhabitants of the 12 tribes of Israel. (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. Step 3 define values of x & y. Sometimes in spiritual warfare, we can mistake our spouse, children, friends, family, and coworkers for the enemy. One day Deborah was sitting under the Palm Tree of Deborah, and the Israelites came up to her to ask what to do about Sisera. Today our battle isnt against a person; it is against the powers of darkness. Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 10:00, "What are the most popular Jewish baby names in Israel? Jael acted with initiative and courage. A woman whose physical strength, faithfulness, patience, and discernment were praised in the very first poem of the Hebrew Bible: The Song of Deborah.. Feminine hospitality is a powerful thing to a man. Andy Botwin (Justin Kirk) goes to a Rabbinical school to dodge military service where he meets Yael Hoffman. Jezebel Who was Jezebel? Jael appears bound to the Israelites because of her husbands kinship through the Midianites. 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. Sisera was in flight and Barak in pursuit. Others propose that physical ascension requires finding literal footing, whereas figurative ascension (in prosperity and cultural diversity) is fundamentally based on the mastery of practical and useful skills. Lead them to Mount Tabor. That would put him to sleep, a very deep sleep. -2 Corinthians 3:5-6. Jael saw an opportunity to help Gods people. I too have one of the sweetest little granddaughters on the planetshes almost 6 & wants to know more about this Jael ( her name is Jaela but she is a namesake) .thanks for the info, I will definitely pass it all on to her!!!! When Sisera got to her tent she invited him in and he entered without fear because " there was peace between Jabinand the house of Heber ". Java applications are usually compiled to bytecode, which can execute on any Java virtual machine (JVM), regardless of the computer architecture. A woman who was married to a mercenary and opportunist, but herself was faithful to the Israel nation and to God. Her story is found in Judges 4:17-24. Jael was some kind of woman. During the Wife of Bath's Prologue, and whilst discussing her fifth husband's "book of wikked wives", Chaucer mentions some wives who "han drive nailes in hir brain, / Whil that they slepte, and thus they had hem slain. Faith, not fear, wins. According to tradition, both her and husband would have had separate tents, doubling her work, efforts and skill. In those days when men had multiple wives, each woman had a tent for herself. In one episode she tells him the biblical story of her first name. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:Easton, Matthew George (1897). Jael was a Nomadic, tent dweller. The Antiquities of the Jews, translated by William Whiston. Asbury revival draws massive crowds, over 7 Bible Verses About The Lords Supper or What Does The Bible Say About Our Thoughts? Copyright 2022 Nina Dafe. Jael and her family were a bit like Abraham and Sarah. Together, Heber and Jael live under the rich umbrella of safety and wealth afforded under a ratified peace treaty between themselves and General Sisera. 5. She will be blessed above all women (Judges 5:24) because of her heroic act. If I asked most people to think of a warrior woman mentioned in Judges 4 and 5, I am pretty sure that most minds would go straight to Deborah. Still, for a meaning of the name Jael, both BDB Theological Dictionary and NOBSE Study Bible Name List read Mountain Goat. Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite who is celebrated in the Song of Deborah in the Book of Judges in chapter five. Ironically her life in a tent, and the skills this entailed, would serve as apt training for General Siseras betrayal and execution. And when it comes to slaying spiritual dragons, this is the kind of courage that God wants us to have. Some scholars insist that these nouns derive from a whole other but unused verb, namely one meaning to ascend. And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking. So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in his temple.. Their funerary iconography indicates that (at the least) they. The term Midianites is derived from Midian who was a son of Abraham and Keturah. If she did not act, King Jabil and the Canaanites would continue their oppressive power over the Israelites. Abagail was kind and intelligent. When I was 39, I became pregnant in the darkest part of our 21 years of marriage. Susan runs on Jesus, coffee, and not enough sleep. During the time of the Exodus the Kenites acted in kindness to Moses and the Israelites. A woman who proved to be an early proponent of womens rights, eliminating the threat of sanctioned rape under the guise of hospitality. These are tools she knew how to use well because she made tents. That is why we need to decide in our hearts that when the time comes, we will say yes to God. Asiatic jackals are characterized by their ears, which are slightly smaller than African common jackals. 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