This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. The Lord will allow a woman to defeat Sisera, Barak and his men attacked Sisera. 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. More of her work can be found at Woman of Noble Character. She was the wife of a man named Lappidoth. 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. Curiously, nouns (ya'al) and (ya'ala) describe the male and female mountain goat respectively. She was the wife of Israelite King Ahab. Jael features in the book of Judges as a heroic woman who killed Sisera, the leader of King Jabin's Canaanite army. 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. The Israelite army, however, had strategically no chance of success since they were sorely lacking in soldiers and weaponry. After Barak demurs at the behest of the prophetess Deborah, God turns Sisera over to Jael, killing him by driving a tent peg through his skull after he enters her tent near the great tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh. Come in. Jael, Shawna R.T. Atteberry, http://www.shawnaatteberry.com/2008/12/11/436/. All the chariots got stuck in the mud. Here Artemisia shows Jael wearing a 17th-century version of the simple sort of dress that might be worn by a respectable tradesman's wife. Zondervan Publishers, 1967. Jael showed Sisera great hospitality. So what about you, lovely? This event in Jaels life reveals a series of lessons, the first of which is that God will always fulfil His word. If anyone comes by and asks you, Is anyone in there? say, No, But Jael found a tent peg and a hammer. ", And Jael said to him, "Go, boast before your father in hell and tell him that you have fallen into the hands of a woman. But, any job God gives us to do He will pour out the courage and ability to do it. It could just mean that their lives will take turns they didnt see coming. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. You will have that defining moment in your life, just like Jael did, where you will be used mightily to further His kingdom. A bigail became one of the wives of King David. Barak demurred, saying he would go, provided she would also. They did not know what to do. Required fields are marked *. But he did not feel it, because he was very groggy. While the Bible doesnt expressly tell us about Jaels motives for killing Sisera, she must have had a motive that was more important to her than an earthly alliance, and that motive must have been honoring God. Sisera was in flight and Barak in pursuit. Jael was a tent-dweller. 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. She put the tent peg to the side of Siseras head and hit it with a hammer. [4] The Kenites were a nomadic tribe, some of whom lived in close proximity to the Israelites. During the battle, the Lord confused Sisera and his army and chariots. Deborah was the first. It literally translates to "he shall ascend or go up". Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 10:00, "What are the most popular Jewish baby names in Israel? As a Judge in Israel, it was her obligation to save the Israelites from their enemies and restore peace and prosperity to the land. That is why the Song of Deborah was written for On the day that the Israelites defeated Sisera, Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song (Judges 5:2-31) in tribute, first and foremost to God but Jael was hailed as a heroine and was part if this Song of Deborah and gave Jael a right and fitting place in the history of Israel. Quite the opportunist, Heber travels north from Judah to Canaan, taking Jael with him. 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. Jael Articles. T here are many great examples of strong women in the Bible to learn from. Remember the story of Lot and the angels? At that very moment Barak came by Jaels tent, looking for Sisera. And Jael took Sisera and pushed him onto the ground from the bed. Come in. [9] The "Song of Deborah" (Judg. The Israelites were clearly able to see their God, Yahweh, was superior to the Canaanite god, Baal. Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite who is celebrated in the Song of Deborah in the Book of Judges in chapter five. Remember that as a woman, you too have the ability and the right to discern Gods Truth and will, regardless of the war and chaos surrounding you. They were well-educated, wealthy, wives, mothers, and judging from the number of solo female portraits single women or widows. A woman who, akin to the Virgin Mary, courageously helped save the Israelite nation despite the oppressive cultural norms for women, and chose Gods people over her own reputation. Some scholars insist that these nouns derive from a whole other but unused verb, namely one meaning to ascend. Worse, he did this when she was alone. It may not be in line with our idea of perfect timing, however He is not a man that He should lie;" His word does not return to Him void but accomplishes what He pleases (Isaiah 55:11). God is the the most powerful force in the universe, more powerful than Evil. 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. Miriam ( Mir-ym) was born in 1576 B.C. Jael could offer to help a fleeing enemy, as she did, but was not obligated to the ritual hospitality law. She lives in rural North Central Missouri with her handsome and hilarious husband and a myriad of dogs, cats and chickens. When the Holy Spirit prompts us to act, we usually dont have long to think. In Renaissance works the subject is one of the most commonly shown in the Power of Women topos, with other biblical women who triumphed over men, such as Judith or Delilah. 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 did not kill Sisera out of personal anger or revenge. When Sisera asked for a drink of water and Jael instead gave him prized goat milk, she was offering the best of the house, setting his mind at ease and allowing him to feel safe from his enemies. [5] Heber lived approximately during the 12th century BC in the Hula Valley (anciently known as Zaanaim) of northern Israel during the time of the Israelite judges. Tearing a page from Ehuds handbook, she lulls Sisera into trust and complacency. So the Israelites became stronger and stronger until they defeated King Jabin of Canaan. Thus, Jael was very capable of holding a tent peg in one hand and utilize the use of a hammer, or maul, in the other. 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 term Midianites is derived from Midian who was a son of Abraham and Keturah. [18] Jael, along with Ehud, is an example in Judges of the contrast between marginal heroes and well-armed enemies conquered by wit and stealth. I can't get over how fearlessly Jael acts in this story. Do not be afraid.. And she smote Sisera; she crushed his head, Jael, under the circumstances, had no better weapon than the tent peg. It is believed they served customers wherever they traveled in the way of metalworkers. Have you ever read any of Davids prayers? It is unknown if Jael, like Rahab, acted out of loyalty to Israel and Israels God, or reacted to Siseras arrogant and domineering behavior. "Jael: Bible." He brought the battlefield to his allys encampment. KNOWN OF ALL TENT DWELLING WOMENTO BE MOST BLESSEDJudges 4:17-22; 5:6, 24-27. Jael is portrayed in the French silent film Jael and Sisera (1911), directed by Henri Andrani.[23]. His family was at peace with King Jabin of Hazor. He wasnt just a regular visiting guest. A woman who was married to a mercenary and opportunist, but herself was faithful to the Israel nation and to God. Both sides in the conflict would have considered the Kenites a neutral party. Barak said to her, If you will go withme, I will go. (The other Prophetess' are: Sarah, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, and Esther . Your email address will not be published. Jael acted with initiative and courage. After all, a sleeping man cannot defend himself. Jael is best known for killing Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, in a bloody, gruesome manner. Proud member Trust in God's Word Deborah trusted in the word of God. In her free time youll probably find her writing, lifting, or doting on her handsome cat. [citation needed] According to Jack Sasson, there are reasons to doubt whether the events narrated in Judges 4 ever occurred. This is not a story about physical strength but about strength of commitment to God. Eve and Adam, painting by Tamara de Lempicka, 1932. Incidentally, this historic ground was located in Nephtali a land set apart for fleeing inhabitants of the 12 tribes of Israel. The fact is, if God could use Jael to free the children of Israel and bring peace to their land, He can use you for whatever He has called you to do too. Those enemies who are relentless in pursuing the called of God will be temporarily or permanently taken care of by God. Forty stations within a 20 km2 Maltese maerl bed were sampled by grab to gather data on sediment granulometry and the percentage mass, sphericity, and morphotype of rhodoliths. This ordinary woman does something extra-ordinary, and shows herself to be a willing, and committed, chosen instrument for God. Jael understandably feared for her body and her life. Lessons from Deborah in the Bible (characteristics and leadership qualities), 20 Free Christian Coloring Pages printables for adults and children . The railways and other public transportation systems, such as their trains and buses, for instance, are orderly and also extremely efficient and punctual. And while he was dying, Sisera said to Jael, "Behold pain has taken hold of me, Jael, and I die like a woman. Thus, after his defeat by the Israelite forces, Sisera fled to the tents of Heber. Jael had a front row seat to the vicious cycle of idolatry and judgment upon the nation of Israel namely the destruction of the lands and the assimilation of pagan practices. On the day Sisera died, Deborah and Barak honor Jael with song: Jael is most blessed of women,the wife of Heber the Kenite,she is most blessed amongtent-dwelling women.Judges 5:24. These themes were echoed in contemporary plays and poems as well. And when God steps in, His goal is to bring an end to the battle once and for all. By Jaels one act, she saves Israel from oppression, reverses the traitorious bedmates of Israel with Canaan, demolishes the law of rape under the guise of hospitality, saves her own reputation, becomes a woman warrior in her own right, and fulfills Deborahs prophecy. If she did not act, King Jabil and the Canaanites would continue their oppressive power over the Israelites. Woman who was married to a mercenary and characteristics of jael, Heber travels from. 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