Who was Jael?

To study the woman named Jael we need to back up a little and study the history and events of Jael’s time period, from the Bible. During this period Israel was ruled by judges. When they had a strong, God-fearing judge the people enjoyed many blessings from God. The Israelites had been drawn away from the worship of the Lord and began to live like the people around them—praying to idols and participating in pagan worship.(Judges 4:1) They were being oppressed by a Canaanite king in the north whose name was Jabin.(Judges 4:2)

At this time, another woman by the name of Deborah was ruling as judge over a large part of Israel. Deborah was the only woman of the fifteen judges who consecutively ruled Israel. It is said that she sat under a tree (Judges 4:5) north of Jerusalem, between the cities of Ramah and Bethel, and gave advice to the people and judged disputes between them. As well as being a judge, she was also a prophet —- communicating the will of God to the people of Israel.

But Barak conceded to wage the war if Deborah would go with him into battle.(Judges 4:8) To this she replied, (Judges 4:9) "I will indeed go with you. But you will not gain fame on the expedition you are taking, for the Lord will turn Sisera over to a woman."

The two ultimately succeeded in gathering forces from the six tribes most directly hurt by the Canaanites, but these six tribes proved sufficient. The battle took place in the valley of the Kishon River, southwest of the Sea of Galilee. A combination of rain and river floods rendered all the mighty chariots useless as they struggled in the mud. The Israelites came down from the hilltop. With their small army and the element of surprise on their side, they successfully overtook the Canaanite army. However, the detested general of the opposing troops, Sisera, escaped on foot. (Judges 4:15) The story doesn’t end here.

Sisera, running for his life, came upon the tent of a man named Heber, and Heber’s wife, Jael. Jael knew who Sisera was and she invited him into their tent. As a member of the Bedouin clan Jael was bound by custom to extend hospitality to those they met. Sisera asked her for water and she gave him a glass of milk and encouraged him to take a rest. She covered him with a blanket. He told Jael,

(Judges 4:20) "Stand watch at the entrance to the tent. If anyone comes along and asks you, 'Is there a man here?' say 'No.’"

After Sisera had fallen asleep, Jael got a tent stake and drove it through Sisera’s temple, pinning him to the dirt, killing him. Later, as Barak searched for the fleeing general Sisera, he came upon the tent of Heber and Jael. Jael took him inside and showed him the dead general.(Judges 4:22) "Come here,” she said, “and I will show you the man you are searching for." He went with her into the tent, and there he saw Sisera sprawled out dead, with the tent peg in his temple.

Jael’s act of treachery was also an act of heroism as she helped to free the country from the Canaanite oppression. Deborah’s prophecy from God was seen to completion and God, indeed delivered the oppressor into the hands of a woman.

Jael is immortalized in a great song, written by Deborah the judge:

(Judges 5:24) The most rewarded

of women should be Jael,

the wife of Heber the Kenite!

She should be the most rewarded of women who live in tents.

5:25 He asked for water,

and she gave him milk;

in a bowl fit for important men,

she served him curds.

5:26 Her left hand reached for the tent peg,

her right hand for the workmen's hammer.

She "hammered" Sisera,

she shattered his skull,

she smashed his head,

she drove the tent peg through his temple.

5:27 Between her feet he collapsed,

he fell limp and was lifeless;

between her feet he collapsed and fell limp,

in the spot where he collapsed,

there he fell limp-violently murdered!