Jael

Who is Jael? She can be found in the great book of Judges. As a woman, I am always on the lookout for female role models. My hair almost curled when I discovered Jael. In my opinion, she was truly inspired and led by God. We’ll have to go through a bit of history before we get to her, but hang with me, it’s exciting. Please check it out for yourself (Judges 4-5 ).

The Book of Judges
The author is unknown but Judges is attributed to Samuel by talmudic tradition. It is probable that the books of Judges, Ruth, Samuel, and Kings originally formed one work.


The book of Judges spans the time period between Joshua and Samson (BC 1491-1011)
Jud 19:1 and it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel
There was this judge named Deborah.
Jud 4:4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
You talk about role models! There wasn’t a man who could hack it, so Deborah ran the show. She listened to God and trusted Him.

The generation after Joshua was an ungrateful lot indeed. They not only forgot where their blessings came from, they were downright ungrateful. They worshipped other gods and started doing evil. God was angry against Israel. He allowed them to go their chosen way and let their enemies mistreat them. Of course, they came crying to God when things got tough. Even though He was angry, He raised up judges to deliver them out of the enemy's hand.

Jud 2:14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

Jud 2:15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

Jud 2:16 Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.

Are you with me so far?

Israel delivered - Israel ungrateful - Enemies - Judges ruled - Enter Deb.

The general of Deborah’s army was Barak - he had 10,000 men. The general of the Canaanite (enemy) army was Sisera - he had a multitude (that's a lot) plus 900 chariots of iron.

Jud 4:3 And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

God told Deborah what to do, she reminded Barak. He was chicken and said he wouldn’t go into battle unless she went with him. What a scardy cat. Deborah didn’t even hesitate, she went with him. Of course, they were led by God so Barak kicked their butts - down to the last man (Judges 4:6-10). Oops! except for Sisera, that is. Stay with me, we’re getting to the juicy part.

When Sisera saw that his army was being defeated, he ran like a scalded dog.

Jud 4:15 And the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.

ENTER JAEL

When Jael saw Sisera deserting his army, she offered to hide him at her place.

The Book of Judges identifies Jael as the wife of Heber, a Kenite (children of Moses' father in law). THEY WERE NOT KENITES. They only lived in the land of the Kenites (say you moved from New York to Vermont - you’d then be identified as a Vermonter, even though you aren’t from there).

Num 10:29 And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.

Jud 1:16 And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.

Anyway, back to Jael. Let’s hear it right from God’s Word.

Jud 4:18 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.

Jud 4:19 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.

Jud 4:20 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.

Jud 4:21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an 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.

SHE NAILED HIS HEAD TO THE FLOOR WITH A TENT SPIKE!!!

So . . . who is Jael?

Jud 5:24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.