He gives us certain skills and gifts for a reason, and we should always be on the lookout for ways to use them. Blessed is she among women. A distinctive honor not just given to the Virgin Mary, but also to a little-known nomadic warrior who descended from a priestly clan in 1125 B.C. Eve means 'life-bearer'. Then she used a tent peg and hammer. The Deceptions Of Jael. And Ehud smotes him in the heart, leaving the dagger in his body with a treacherous slight of hand. Sisera was in flight and Barak in pursuit. 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. When the Canaanites were defeated by Barak, Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, fled and sought refuge with the friendly tribe of Heber, beneath the oaks of Zaanaim. They therefore cried out to the Lord who sent His answer via Deborah, a judge and prophetess. In God's good design, men are rulers and fighters; they bear the responsibility of providing . Grow, develop and die 5. When I was 39, I became pregnant in the darkest part of our 21 years of marriage. Their funerary iconography indicates that (at the least) they. I will make Sisera, the commander of King Jabins army, come to you. The fact is that they will not let up until they have accomplished their goals. 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. On hearing Gods word, she sent for a man named Barak and told him that the Lord wanted him to gather ten thousand men and go to war against Sisera, the commander of Jabins army. God tends to bypass the people that man would think are the most qualified to manifest His word in favour of those that man would overlook. [16] Biblical commentaries have viewed Jael as either a heroine or someone much less so. She only gets a few lines of Scripture, but we have so much to learn from her. Here are a few tips for when you find yourself in a battle with the enemy of your soul. The Archaeological Study Bible, NIV version, Zondervan Publishers, 2005. She was married to Heber, the Kenite. She put the tent peg to the side of Siseras head and hit it with a hammer. She didnt waste a moment thinking, If only I had a sword. She simply took up the tools at hand and did what was being asked of her. And Deborah prophesies: I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. Presumably this hand was that of the Judge Deborah, not an obscure woman living in the high desert amongst the enemy. It is believed they served customers wherever they traveled in the way of metalworkers. There was a woman prophet named Deborah. And in many ways we can see, from the story of Samson, just how weak Delilah was in her relation to Samson. Jael is the second female warrior listed in the Bible. Come in. Therefore, the prospect of a woman being able to kill an experienced commander of an army was a strange one. Note that the death of Sisera was unusual because the general of the Canaanite army lost his life by the hands of a woman, which in the culture of the Ancient Near East, was considered to be the greatest humiliation a soldier could ever experience. IMAGINE: Being a Nomadic, tent dweller who seizes the opportunity to save Israel from their cruel oppressor taking all is fair in love and war to a whole new level. But, any job God gives us to do He will pour out the courage and ability to do it. The common jackal's face is brown or red with white shades across its cheeks and throat. That would put him to sleep, a very deep sleep. Jael's actions are mentioned in the song. Who was Melchizedek and Why was He so Important? "[14][15] According to Herbert Lockyer she may have acted out of practical necessity. At the time a prophetess named Deborah was judge over Israel, and people went to her in matters of justice. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The ancient laws of hospitality in the ancient Middle East were very strict. The only one who can help us do that is Jesus. Jael probably had her own tent separate from her husbands living quarters. In spiritual warfare, you have to know who the enemy is. These themes were echoed in contemporary plays and poems as well. She had to ignore all the fear, all the what-ifs.. She may have just been trying to delay him so that anyone pursuing him could catch up. This is perhaps why he felt safe and comfortable in her camp. Before we talk anymore about Jael, we have to talk about what was going on in Israel at the time. How different would the world look if we seized opportunities, used our resources, freed the oppressed, honored God, and fought like Jael? And God doubles down on this theme by using another woman, Jael, to deal the fatal blow to Israel's enemy. The chief man of the household could only offer ritual hospitality meaning he had to protect and care for the guest, even at the expense of everyone else belonging to his household. 5. Your imperfections and disadvantages do not disqualify you from doing something great for God. Deborah, the prophetess, was judging Israel at this time. When she didnt see anyone chasing after him, maybe that is when the decision was made. [citation needed]. If she did not act, Deborahs prophecy from God would not have been fulfilled. This enabled the Israelite army to defeat the Canaanites one person at a time. 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The name Jael is pronounced the same as the word for mountain goat, but distinctions in pronunciation were added many centuries after this text was written. Newsom and Ringe consider her a survivor caught up in her husband's politics. Heber made weapons. Abagail was kind and intelligent. 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. You will have that defining moment in your life, just like Jael did, where you will be used mightily to further His kingdom. However, she is not the only woman of valour detailed in this particular part of the Bible. brave/fearless- Jael had to be brave to take in a man from the opposing nation and give her word to keep him safe, only to kill him! She covered him with a rug to hide and comfort him. Heber and his household were at peace with Jabin, the king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Place in Biblical Texts The task set before her took a large amount of courage. 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). 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. (Judges 3:12-25). She was a non-Israelite and did not worship Jehovah. Ch.1.4: CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE. 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. Rather, it makes you a perfect candidate for Him to show His glory through. Jael is the heroine who kills Sisera after the battle of Jabin, king of Hazor, against Israel under Deborah and Barak (Judges 4:17). During . This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. Jael was vigilant Jael was the typical woman taking care of the daily affairs of her home. The Israelites finally destroyed him (Judges 4:23-24) which is why it was written that Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite. Those enemies who are relentless in pursuing the called of God will be temporarily or permanently taken care of by God. 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. So he died. Susan runs on Jesus, coffee, and not enough sleep. Her experience shows how God can maneuver events to fulfill prophecy. The portability of Java-based software (which means that you can write your code in a system and run it anywhere) is one of the most important characteristics of Java. Jael is one of those women of the Bible who we don't get a lot of details or background on. By the way, if you prefer to listen rather than continue to read, feel free to play the audio below. -2 Corinthians 3:5-6. I could not believe that such violence was in the Bible. L'inscription et faire des offres sont gratuits. [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. A deeper understanding of people in the Bible. With the finger of God directing judgment on the oppressors, hail, sleet and hurricane-force winds were driven into the faces of the Canaanite army, blinding their vision and mucking the grounds into which the chariots iron wheels get buried. Deborah had great reason to applaud Jaels actions in her poem. While we are not sure about her faith, we are sure about her courage. 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.. So when Sisera approached her tent, she knew exactly who he was and what she needed to do. Deborah is one of the major judges (charismatic military leaders, not juridical figures) in the story of how Israel takes the land of Canaan. You will need to know the difference. Deborah started the battle to defeat the enemy of Israel and Jael finished it. She was judge of Israel at that time. The other primary female character, Jael, has not been viewed so positively. Jael was the wife of Heber - "Now, Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Moses' brother-in-law, Hobab, had moved away from the other members of his tribe and pitched his tent by the oak of Zaanannim near Kedesh." (4:11) "Meanwhile, Sisera ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because Heber's family was on friendly terms . She loves to hang around men with money, power, influence and positions. There Barak found Sisera lying dead on the ground, with the tent peg through the side of his head, God defeated King Jabin of Canaan for the Israelites. These are tools she knew how to use well because she made tents. The term Midianites is derived from Midian who was a son of Abraham and Keturah. Jael showed Sisera great hospitality. Then Sisera said to Jael, Go stand at the entrance to the tent. They traveled whenever they could find work. Jael would have been remarkably adept with a tent pin and hammer, knowing how to grind a stake into the desert ground. They had the latest technology in the form of 900 iron chariots. Step 2 declare three integers x, y & z. This is not a story about physical strength but about strength of commitment to God. It was effective, but it was also violent and gory. ( Judges 4:9) For her role, Jael was praised as the "most blessed of women." Judges 5:24. The war wasnt won by this one deed, but this was the beginning of the end of the Canaanites reign over Israel. The Jezebel Bible story comes to a close with the queen's gory death. They reconciled, and warily journeyed home through the land of Canaan staying the night with an old man of the friendly Ephraim tribe. 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. She was the wife of Israelite King Ahab. Jenna Martin is a youth ministry worker and freelance writer who specializes in Bible, health, and tourism topics. That is why we need to decide in our hearts that when the time comes, we will say yes to God. Warrior, Dancer, Seductress, Queen: Women in Judges and Biblical Israel, Susan Ackerman, Anchor Bible Step 1 Start. She was accustomed to setting up and tearing down camp. And not just any milk. [9] Noting the maternal and erotic undertones of the text and some commentators' qualms about Jael's seductive and violent act, Bachmann points out that the Bible itself has nothing but praise for Jael, called most blessed of women in the Song of Deborah. She is materialistic and she loves power. (Judges 5:24-27) God equips His people for the work He puts in front of them. Sisera was the commander of the Canaanite forces and so Barak and his men attacked Sisera. This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 10:00. Her family were tinsmiths who made farming utensils, domestic items, and weapons. 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. Jael went out to meet Barak and said, Come in here, and I will show you the man you are looking for. So Barak entered the tent with Jael. As the predicted battle between Canaan and Israel ensues, it is clearly evident that another David vs. Goliath scenario was playing out. Be patient, and wait for the opportune time when God will use you, while staying faithful and steadfast to His laws and commands. Asiatic jackals are characterized by their ears, which are slightly smaller than African common jackals. Turn aside, my lord, she said to him. He had separated himself and his wife Jael from the other Kenites and pitched their tent in the plain of Zaanaim, which is near Kedesh in the tribal territory of Naphtali. In the Baroque period, Jael continued to be a sexual figure in art. 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!!!! Despite this, once Jael saw that he was in a deep sleep, she took a tent peg and hammer, crept over to Sisera and drove the peg into his temple- so far that it went down into the ground. This shows how desperate he was to not be found. A womans tent is the very last place anybody would look for a fugitive or a runaway army commander. She quietly went to Sisera. Jael was no match for him, neither in size nor military strategy. No matter how difficult or threatening the situation, God's power within us is greater than we can ever fully see or comprehend. 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. Everything we do should be for the sake of honoring and bringing glory to God. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul. 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