Judges 4:17-24

The Death of Sisera Judges 4:17-24

17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.
19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No,
21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary, So he died.
22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

12.

What was Jael's motive? Judges 4:17

Jael wanted to aid Israel's cause. Jael was not proposing any lewd act on the part of Sisera. When she invited him into her tent, she was not trying to propose any indecent act on her part, She did have in mind evidently that she would be able to bring about the capture of the enemy captain. Such courageous feats are accomplished often by women who are aroused over injustice and oppression brought on their communities by harsh rulers. Jael has won a place in the hearts of righteous people through the centuries as they have read of her being moved to slay the enemy captain.

13.

What kind of a bottle contained the milk? Judges 4:19

This very interesting incidental reference to the way in which milk was kept is unique in the Scripture. The bottle was undoubtedly either some kind of a jug made of clay, or a pouch made from the skin of an animal. This was a very gracious act of hospitality. Sisera had asked only for a little water to drink. He was thirsty as he had fled from the battle, and Jael had given him more than he had asked. She offered him milk which would give him strength as well as slake his thirst.

14.

What kind of a nail was used? Judges 4:21

Since the Canaanites were in possession of chariots of iron, Jael would undoubtedly have had possession of a nail of iron. Some feel that a wooden tent peg was used. In any case, it was of large size because she was able to drive it not only through Sisera's head but into the ground beneath his head. Such pegs were necessary to support the tents pitched by nomadic people. Fierce winds would flatten their places of abode if the cords were not held taut by pegs or nails driven firmly into the earth.

15.

In what way was Jabin subdued? Judges 4:23

The Scripture says that God subdued Jabin that day. God fought for Israel as has been said in many passages of Scripture. At the same time, it is recorded that the hand of the children of Israel was hard against Jabin. They pursued him until they had utterly destroyed him. His chariots of iron were not enough to bring him victory as he fought against the Lord's people. The smashing blow dealt him in this battle broke the hard hand of oppression in which he had held Israel.