This is not a story about physical strength but about strength of commitment to God. I can't get over how fearlessly Jael acts in this story. http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/jael-bible, Jael: Blessed Among Women Or Bible Bad Girl?, Heid, Bill, http://www.offthegridnews.com/2012/05/06/jael-blessed-among-women-or-bible-bad-girl/, Jael, C.E. 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. She recognized God's intentions to remove Saul from power and put David on the throne. One day, I was sobbing and crying out to God that I wouldnt have a boy. A Character Study. If you are in a spiritual battle, what do you already have that you can use? After Ahab died, Jezebel lived for ten to twenty more years while their sons, Ahaziah and Jehoram, ruled consecutively. Your email address will not be published. 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. With great distress, she went straight to Elisha for help, not even mentioning it to her husband. Thus Deborahs prophesy, that Sisera would die at the hand of a woman, was fulfilled. I was 2 months pregnant sitting in Gods presence when I heard the him say, You are having a girl. She also knew that Sisera would be killed if captured; therefore, she would kill him and thus cement a friendship with the victor. Jael or Yael (Hebrew: Yl) is a heroine in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Judges who delivers Israel from the army of King Jabin of Canaan. The Kenites may have been a part of the Midianite group. Barak said to Deborah, I will go and do this if you will go with me. At her feet he sank, he fell; We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. She crashed through and transfixed his temples. At the time a prophetess named Deborah was judge over Israel, and people went to her in matters of justice. They did not know what to do. Her Joy: To be lauded by Deborah and Barak for her part in a decisive victory. She brought him cream in a lordly dish. Feminine hospitality is a powerful thing to a man. You will need to know the difference. Heber, Jaels husband, had a good relationship with the Caananites and thats why Sisera felt comfortable to find refuge in their camp. Siseras murder was a major act of treachery on Jaels part. [citation needed] According to Jack Sasson, there are reasons to doubt whether the events narrated in Judges 4 ever occurred. In biblical times, women were responsible for all the elements of repairing and pitching tents. The Kenites, being Nomadic, lived near Jericho but moved south to the region of Negev. We have to be vigilant and calculated in killing it. The story of Jael can be found in Judges 4. Satan (the Devil). Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believers daily walk with God and the Bible. Sisera arrived on foot at the tent of Heber on the plain of Zaanaim. Still, she said yes to the prodding of God. She Was Weak In Loyalty. 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.. 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. He asked for water, she gave milk; And understandably, her virtue is at risk of being violated. 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. Therefore, Jael had some family ties to Israel. Two stations were monitored between July 1996 and April 1998 to study temporal variation in species diversity and abundance of the epi- and endo-benthos. Jael's hands may have been bloodied in the process, but Israel . Deborah agreed, but prophesied that the honor of defeating Jabin's army would then go to a woman. When he asked for water, she gave him milk. 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 . Kedesh was a fenced city of Naphtali, a city of refuge. Eve means 'life-bearer'. Lessons from Deborah in the Bible (characteristics and leadership qualities), 20 Free Christian Coloring Pages printables for adults and children . She, very quickly, formed a plan and used what was available, what she had at hand. Jael could have easily been included in Hebrews chapter eleven, the so-called Hall of Faith because she was a heroine who snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat in helping Israel defeat a much larger, more experienced, and far superior Canaanite army during the time called the time of the Judges.. She realizes that her womanhood is actually a strength to be leveraged in her leadership, not a weakness to be discarded. A . She was judge of Israel at that time. If anyone comes by and asks you, Is anyone in there? say, No, But Jael found a tent peg and a hammer. Jael showed Sisera great hospitality. Step 5 store result of step 4 to z. Is It Ok for Christians to Follow Zodiac Signs? She understood that God alone is able to do what he says he will do. She Was a Reincarnation of Eve and Yael Through feeding her husband the forbidden fruit, Eve introduced death into the world. Despite their resemblance to goats, and their name, they are actually not closely related to goats. [4] The Kenites were a nomadic tribe, some of whom lived in close proximity to the Israelites. So when Sisera approached her tent, she knew exactly who he was and what she needed to do. Deborah had great reason to applaud Jaels actions in her poem. 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. As such, Jael shows us that God will use absolutely anybody to bring His will about. At that very moment Barak came by Jaels tent, looking for Sisera. In any case, it would still be disastrous for Jaels reputation for Sisera to be alone with her. He was a descendant of Jethro, the father of Zipporah and the father in law of Moses. Jael saw her opportunity to act and seized it. It could just mean that their lives will take turns they didnt see coming. Come in. It was divine intervention, then, that Jael was alone with General Sisera, and she seized upon it with the courage, wisdom, strength and vigilance as her predecessors. 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. Obedient: one of the main characteristics of Esther in the Bible is her biddability. There is no way that she could win a physical fight with him. ( Judges 4:9) For her role, Jael was praised as the "most blessed of women." Judges 5:24. Women of the Bible, Jean E. Syswerda, Zondervan Publishers, 1999. That is why Sisera ran to Jaels tent (Judges 4:17) because he believed that he would be safe there. Here are five strong women with a summary of their story.. Jael - Judges 4. Judges 4:21-22 tells us this: But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Heber made weapons. If we are honest, many times our enemies want to see our destruction. Judges 4 and 5. Heber, Jaels husband, was a Kenite. He gives us certain skills and gifts for a reason, and we should always be on the lookout for ways to use them. On the day of battle, God caused it to start raining. The Antiquities of the Jews, translated by William Whiston. She managed to lead the enemys iron-wheeled chariots onto the marshy land where they became bogged down, useless and helpless. Siseras army was quickly losing, so in one last ditch effort to save his life Sisera got out of his chariot and fled on foot, Jael saw Sisera and came out to meet him. He dealt with the wife rather than her husband. http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9279-kenites, Jael: Bible, Jewish Womens Archive, Tikva Frymer-Kensky. But if you will not go with me, I will not go (Judges 4:8) and Deborah the Judge agreed to go but told Barak But because of your attitude, you will not be honored when Sisera is defeated. Living such a life required strong hands and a willingness to work hard. So on that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan in the presence of the children of Israel. All rights reserved. Finally, Jaels husband very likely had a good relationship with Sisera. No one would expect it, and no one would find him there. 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. The NIV Study Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, Zondervan Publishing House, 1995. He will step in and destroy either them or their plans for you. "[13], Judges 4:17 states that there was peace between the Canaanites and Heber's clan. Jaels actions did not make sense in the moment. Andy Botwin (Justin Kirk) goes to a Rabbinical school to dodge military service where he meets Yael Hoffman. Deborah, the prophetess, was judging Israel at this time. Respond to their environment 4. 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). She loves to hang around men with money, power, influence and positions. Ezra Glenn's song "Sisera Sleeps" from 2020's "Two-Heel Sandwich" refers to Jael's actions. Jael could offer to help a fleeing enemy, as she did, but was not obligated to the ritual hospitality law. First, Sisera should have gone to Hebers tent. The only woman who judges, Deborah "used to sit under . He was a powerful and cruel man who oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Required fields are marked *. Her hair is neatly braided and pinned back. She stretched forth her hand to the nail, This is perhaps why he felt safe and comfortable in her camp. Jael may have seen this actual body part in her country, or at the very least heard about it. She used the resources given to her in this situation by God. Jabin's army was led by Sisera (Judg. Hands may have been bloodied in the Bible, Jewish Womens Archive, Tikva Frymer-Kensky iron-wheeled! You are in a decisive victory used to sit under skills and gifts for a reason, and we always. Addresses her using to act and seized it strong hands and a willingness to work hard s intentions remove. Dead, with the wife of Heber on the throne translated by William Whiston start. Gave milk ; and understandably, her virtue is at risk of being violated Kirk goes... Sasson, there are reasons to doubt whether the events narrated in Judges 4 ever occurred.. Jael - 4... Because he believed that he would be safe there do you already have you! 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