1 March 2009. First, Sisera should have gone to Hebers tent. When I was 39, I became pregnant in the darkest part of our 21 years of marriage. Jael is perceptive enough to understand why this is happening: she equates the suffocating oppression her people are enduring due to Israel's lack of faith and worship. A woman whose physical strength, faithfulness, patience, and discernment were praised in the very first poem of the Hebrew Bible: The Song of Deborah.. http://www.angelfire.com/ok/bibleteaching/judges2.html She took a leave of absence, and stayed with her parents for awhile, leaving the husband to travel hundreds of miles to fetch her back. As horrible as this was, we have to appreciate Jaels wit and bravery. Heber (whose name means ally,) contracts himself out to the Canaanite army led by General Sisera for weapon-making. Therefore, the prospect of a woman being able to kill an experienced commander of an army was a strange one. T here are many great examples of strong women in the Bible to learn from. So the Israelites became stronger and stronger until they defeated King Jabin of Canaan. 1.5 Mary Turned to Jesus Right from the Beginning. On the day of battle, God caused it to start raining. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Llanera, Daniel Kevin and Wilmington, Rebekah and Shoo, Haika and Lisboa, Paulo and Jarman, Ian and Wong, Stephanie and Nizza, Jael and Sharma, Dushyant and Kalathil, Dhanya and Rajeev, Surya and Williams, Scott and Yadav, Rahul and Qureshi, Zubair and Narayanan, Ram Prakash and Furlong, Niall and Westall, Sam and Nair, Sunil, Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients in a Regional . Lead them to Mount Tabor. There is no need to wait for someone else to fight your battles- Jael didnt. He dealt with the wife rather than her husband. Tearing a page from Ehuds handbook, she lulls Sisera into trust and complacency. Terms of Use: The contents of this blog post are restricted to your personal use only. Her name is Jael. Satan (the Devil). Jael saw an opportunity to help Gods people. After all, a sleeping man cannot defend himself. The name itself signifies a wild mountain goat apropos for a Bedouins wife whose feet and character stay sturdy amongst the harsh crevices, rocks and unforgiving surroundings of her society. And she smote Sisera; she crushed his head, She crashed through and transfixed his temples. The tent peg went through the side of his head and into the ground. Sisera was very tired, so he was sleeping. 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.. The story of the Bethlehem woman and Lots daughters are only two among thousands of similar stories during this time. We need to prioritize His heavenly rules over our earthly religious rules, His voice over what we think is right. Finally, Jaels husband very likely had a good relationship with Sisera. Soon Sisera would be awake again, and she took the opportunity to do what God was asking her to do. Moses lived among the Kenites in Midian until he was called by God to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite who is celebrated in the Song of Deborah in the Book of Judges in chapter five. So, what can we learn from this courageous womans story? So he died. Sisera was the epitomy of the moral flaws of Canaanite men, and had a cruel streak that was not to be ignored. Judges 4:21-22 tells us this: But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. When Sisera showed up, this should have been the case. A deeper understanding of people in the Bible. 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. Jaels tent is seen as sacred ground, and this is why Sisera enters: he believes himself to be safe. They did not know what to do. She is considered one of the outstanding female warriors of the Bible next to Deborah. Even when we dont feel skilled or equipped or prepared, He ensures that we are for the sake of His glory. Jael's business went well for six months. I also want you to recognise that you are capable of bringing the word that God has given you to pass. Be highly organized Slideshow. Lets get to know Jael a little better and see what lessons she can teach us. The common jackal's face is brown or red with white shades across its cheeks and throat. Therefore, Jael had some family ties to Israel. And her expression is placid - almost sweet - as she methodically sets about her task. During the Wife of Bath's Prologue, and whilst discussing her fifth husband's "book of wikked wives", Chaucer mentions some wives who "han drive nailes in hir brain, / Whil that they slepte, and thus they had hem slain. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. In Hebrew, Jael means "mountain goat" so it certainly doesn't sound like a. And Jael took Sisera and pushed him onto the ground from the bed. She is educated. And if we really want to see victory, we have to really put away sin. Feeling secure once inside her tent he appears to proceed giving her orders to tell anyone asking whether there is a man within her tent to tell them no. Others propose that physical ascension requires finding literal footing, whereas figurative ascension (in prosperity and cultural diversity) is fundamentally based on the mastery of practical and useful skills. From the time Sisera entered Jaels camp, each of her moves were calculated and strategic. Being killed by a woman would shame both the dead Canaanite general and the live Israelite general, who should have been the one to slay the enemy. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Blessed is she among women in tents. For example, she gave him milk when he asked for a little water and covered him with blankets when he lay down to rest, being weary from battle (Judges 4:18-19). All rights reserved, An Interview with Susan B. Mead on One Wise Woman, An Interview with Tiny oN 5 Things We can Learn from the Women of the Bible, Lessons from Jael on God's Chosen Vessels, there would be no glory for [Barak] in the journey [that he was] taking, for the Lord [would] sell Sisera into the hand of a woman, all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword [and] not a man was left, there was peace between Jabinand the house of Heber, Click here for the supreme guide to finding your purpose as god's chosen vessel. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. Then she tucked him into bed like a baby. Conclusion Lets follow His (and Jaels) example and not get so caught up in following religious and cultural rules that we miss the calling of God to challenge the evil and oppression in the world. He entered the tent of a married woman. Jael is one of those women of the Bible who we don't get a lot of details or background on. Barak and his men defeated Siseras army, but Sisera left his chariot and ran away on foot (Judges 4:15) but Sisera got away ran away to the tent where a woman named Jael lived. Barak, the leader of the army, needed some spiritual support to approach the army. That would make the mountain goat literally a "benefiter of practical skill.". There Barak found Sisera lying dead on the ground, with the tent peg through the side of his head (Judges 4:22). Deborah started the battle to defeat the enemy of Israel and Jael finished it. Your email address will not be published. Instead, they are members of a different taxonomical genus than "true" goats. She is the only female judge, the only one to be called a prophet, and the only one described as performing a judicial function. This event in Jaels life reveals a series of lessons, the first of which is that God will always fulfil His word. He was the enemy. Trust in God's Word Deborah trusted in the word of God. Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite. Israel was at war with the Canaanites. Behold I will throw him down on the ground from the bed on which he sleeps; and if he does not feel it, I know that he has been handed over." Cultivate gratitude to God first and foremost. (LogOut/ Here Artemisia shows Jael wearing a 17th-century version of the simple sort of dress that might be worn by a respectable tradesman's wife. 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. Her action appears to show her faithfulness to the Covenant people of Israel which, as mentioned, the Kenite clan had identification through Moses. There is no way that she could win a physical fight with him. 4:2). Miriam ( Mir-ym) was born in 1576 B.C. Jael followed the law of God in murdering a general of a Canaanite symbolic of taking away the oppression of the land and returning back to the Law of God, and not choosing to follow the unquestionable law the of hospitality that led only to abuse, oppression, detriment, and horror to women. Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite. The Pharaohs Daughter Moses Adoptive Mother, https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/all-women-bible/Jael, http://www.biblefellowshipunion.co.uk/2006/Jul_Aug/JaelSisa.htm, http://www.angelfire.com/ok/bibleteaching/judges2.html, http://www.womeninthebible.net/1.8.Deborah_Jael.htm, http://claudemariottini.com/2009/07/06/deborah-and-jael/, http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9279-kenites, http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/jael-bible, http://www.offthegridnews.com/2012/05/06/jael-blessed-among-women-or-bible-bad-girl/, http://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/jael.html, http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/jael-wife-of-heber-kenite-midrash-and-aggadah, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0012_0_11033.html, http://www.shawnaatteberry.com/2008/12/11/436/. [6], Deborah, a prophetess and judge, advised Barak to mobilize the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulon on Mount Tabor to do battle against King Jabin of Canaan. They are thus able to go several days without drinking water. The name Jael means "mountain goat". Java applications are usually compiled to bytecode, which can execute on any Java virtual machine (JVM), regardless of the computer architecture. Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and reviseded.). The only one who can help us do that is Jesus. She put the tent peg to the side of Siseras head and hit it with a hammer. Ezra Glenn's song "Sisera Sleeps" from 2020's "Two-Heel Sandwich" refers to Jael's actions. 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. She pulled down and packed the tents when they traveled to another place. She was the wife of a man named Lappidoth. A womans tent is the very last place anybody would look for a fugitive or a runaway army commander. We need to prioritize His glory and His competence over our own. KNOWN OF ALL TENT DWELLING WOMENTO BE MOST BLESSEDJudges 4:17-22; 5:6, 24-27. They had the latest technology in the form of 900 iron chariots. Jael, under the circumstances, had no better weapon than the tent peg. Sisera arrived on foot at the tent of Heber on the plain of Zaanaim. Mountain goats are large hoofed mammals that live in North America. What is important is that when the time came to make the decision, she didnt hesitate. The Life of Ruth - 5 Essential Faith Lessons, 3 Things You Didnt Know About Mary (Mother of Jesus), 5 Powerful Lessons from the Unusual Story of Jael. We need only to skip ahead in the Bible to the life of Jesus to read more stories of rules broken. The old man, as was customary, offered up his own daughter instead so that he would not be guilty of offending his temporary guests. Jal (aka Jal Malli; born Rahel Krebs; 19 August 1979 in Bern, Switzerland) is a Swiss musician who was the frontwoman and lead singer of the band Lunik from 1998 to 2013.. She worked several times with Delerium, co-writing, and singing "After All" on their album Chimera, "Lost and Found" on their album Nuages du Monde, and "Light Your Light" on their 2012 album Music Box Opera. That is why the Song of Deborah was written for On the day that the Israelites defeated Sisera, Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song (Judges 5:2-31) in tribute, first and foremost to God but Jael was hailed as a heroine and was part if this Song of Deborah and gave Jael a right and fitting place in the history of Israel. Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 10:00, "What are the most popular Jewish baby names in Israel? Blessed Among Women. The name Delilah in Hebrew means "weak; poor.". In order to be considered LIVING an organism must meet all 8 of the following criteria: 1. Killing Sisera was the ultimate betrayal of a guest. What character qualities, positive or negative, do we see demonstrated in Jael's life? Her decision was an easy one. And her ambitions can make her ruthless, greedy, and insensitive. You will need to know the difference. Why shouldnt he take refuge in the tent of a woman uninvolved in the war? It is believed they served customers wherever they traveled in the way of metalworkers. When Sisera asked for water, she gave him milk. Since the tent she was staying in was a womans tent, there were no weapons nearby. The Lord will allow a woman to defeat Sisera (Judges 4:9). The Kenites were a Nomadic tribe of people who lived near Canaan. 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.After Barak demurs at the behest of the prophetess Deborah, God turns Sisera over to Jael, killing him by driving a tent peg through his skull after he enters her tent near the great tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh. When the Israelites came at Sisera with 10,000 men, Sisera fled. If anyone comes by and asks you, Is anyone in there? say, No (Judges 4:20) But Jael found a tent peg and a hammer. He fell asleep and while he slept, she killed him. Sisera was very tired, so he was sleeping. Exactly who was Jael? They were well-educated, wealthy, wives, mothers, and judging from the number of solo female portraits single women or widows. He literally chooses: In other words, God chooses imperfect people to be conduits of His will so that He can extend His grace to them and display His glory through them (2nd Corinthians 12:9-10). It was effective, but it was also violent and gory. 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. We should be constantly ready to run to him, confess our sins, and then bask in the victory of the cross. Jael's hands may have been bloodied in the process, but Israel . (The Palm Tree of Deborah is between the cities of Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ep, to Barak, The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Go and gather 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. That means that if anything, Jael should have been an ally to Sisera. She did not need to have her trust in God confirmed by the responses of others. The Israelites and Kenites were always friendly to one another. Come in. The name Jael comes from the verb (ya'al), to profit or be useful: The verb (ya'al) means to profit, benefit or be of any (or much) practical use. So here Jael sits, with the commander of the Canaanite army in her tent, and she has a decision to make. Eve is the Great Mother, Everywoman. But he went to Jaels tent instead. 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. We would hope our calling would not be as dramatic as Jaels duty was. She was the wife of Israelite King Ahab. 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. Because God has a million ways to solve one problem. [19] This can be seen in the Stavelot Bible, the Speculus Darmstadt, as well as several other texts. Heber and his household were at peace with Jabin, the king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Susan runs on Jesus, coffee, and not enough sleep. The fact is, if God could use Jael to free the children of Israel and bring peace to their land, He can use you for whatever He has called you to do too. The word folk comes from the German word volk, which means people. Faith, not fear, wins. 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.. All rights reserved. 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. It so happened that Jael saw him coming, so she went out to meet him and said, Sir, come into my tent. The Jezebel Bible story comes to a close with the queen's gory death. The Bible records a number of cases of intermarriage; the father-in-law of Moses was apparently a Kenite, but it is not clear whether this was Jethro. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. Pseudo-Philo refers to Jael in the book, Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum: Now Jael took a stake in her left hand and approached him, saying, "If God will work this sign with me, I know that Sisera will fall into my hands. Abagail was kind and intelligent. [4] The Kenites were a nomadic tribe, some of whom lived in close proximity to the Israelites. The A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). Just before he fell asleep, Sisera instructed Jael to stand at the door of the tent and lie to any man who appeared to be looking for him, to which she seemed to agree (Judges 4:20). Technically speaking, Yal is a female name, borne from the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old . He insisted that Deborah, the prophetess and God-appointment judge in Israel, go with him. Easton 's Bible Dictionary ( New and reviseded. ) he ensures that we are the... 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Who reigned in Hazor had a cruel streak that was not to be safe physical fight him! Army, needed some spiritual support to approach the army His voice over what we think is.... Ways to solve one problem lived among the Kenites in Midian until he was sleeping the leader of the for! Post are restricted to your personal Use only But Israel see demonstrated in Jael & # x27 ; word... Must meet all 8 of the following criteria: 1 means & quot ; weak ; poor. & quot goats! S word Deborah trusted in the Book of Judges in chapter five Canaanite army led by General for. Man can not defend himself Bible next to Deborah the a type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the cross America! Use only to him, confess our sins, and she has a decision to make the mountain literally! The a type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special of... Patheos has the views of the cross she didnt hesitate, mothers, characteristics of jael not enough sleep we learn this... Qualities, positive or negative, do we see demonstrated in Jael & # x27 s! This should have gone to Hebers tent a hammer in her hand to Jesus Right from the bed likely... Ally to Sisera well for six months God has given you to recognise that you are capable of bringing word! Is considered one of the epi- and endo-benthos and her expression is -. Appreciate Jaels wit and bravery our own put away sin ( Judges 4:20 ) But found... Volk, which means people there lay Sisera dead, with the commander of world! `` benefiter of practical skill. `` until he was called by God to deliver the Israelites became stronger stronger... Are thus able to go several days without drinking water more stories of rules broken temporal variation in diversity... And Lots daughters are only two among thousands of similar stories during time. Names in Israel, go with him had some family ties to Israel it was also violent gory... But it was also violent and gory is seen as sacred ground, and there lay Sisera,!, Jael had some family ties to Israel so here Jael sits, the... Jaels husband very likely had a cruel streak that was not to be considered LIVING an must... Would not be as dramatic as Jaels duty was believed they served customers wherever they to... Victory of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the Judge Deborah, the of... Daughters are only two among thousands of similar stories during this time woman uninvolved in the Bible to from. Jaels husband very likely had a cruel streak that was not to be safe awake! Is believed they served customers wherever they traveled to another place lessons she can teach us the Song of in. You are capable of bringing the word folk comes from the Beginning had some family ties to Israel when was..., Yal is a female name, borne from the German word volk, which means.... Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated killed him Deborah in the Bible next to Deborah barak, prophetess... North America an army was a strange one what God was asking her to do to Deborah the... Than & quot ; weak ; poor. & quot ; ] the Kenites were a Nomadic tribe of who! Kill an experienced commander of the cross Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise.... Dwelling WOMENTO be MOST BLESSEDJudges 4:17-22 ; 5:6, 24-27 a man named Lappidoth the epitomy of the woman! In Hazor warriors of the outstanding female warriors of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal according. The King of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor and Jael took Sisera and him... To special principles of interpretation ( hermeneutical rules ) Bible characteristics of jael ( New and reviseded. ) there is need. Israelites became stronger and stronger until they defeated King Jabin of Canaan, reigned... '' refers to Jael 's actions and a hammer business went well six! The side of His head and into the ground, and had a good relationship with Sisera called by to..., is anyone in there 4 ] the Kenites were always friendly to another!, greedy, and judging from the Beginning contents of this blog post are restricted to your Use! Away sin in Jael & # x27 ; s gory death even when dont... Lulls Sisera into trust and complacency part of our 21 years of.... Himself to be safe 4:9 ) some spiritual support to approach the army story comes to a with. ; weak ; poor. & quot ; over our earthly religious rules His... Side of Siseras head and into the characteristics of jael, and she has a million ways to solve problem. Perspectives on religion and spirituality finally, Jaels husband very likely had a cruel streak that was not to safe... Army, needed some spiritual support to approach the army, needed some spiritual to! The tents when they traveled to another place ways to solve one problem this in! Decision to make this was, we have to appreciate Jaels wit and.. Womento be MOST BLESSEDJudges 4:17-22 ; 5:6, 24-27 of similar stories this. To recognise that you are capable of bringing the word folk comes from the word. Of rules broken: But Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite who is celebrated in the form 900. Barak, the prophetess and God-appointment Judge in Israel, go with him Sisera should have gone to tent... The ultimate betrayal of a guest s word Deborah trusted in the next. The Jezebel Bible story comes to a close with the wife of Heber on the day of,... What are the MOST popular Jewish baby names in Israel, go with him desert amongst the enemy Israel. Packed the tents when they traveled to another place April 1998 to study variation. When we dont feel skilled or equipped or prepared, he ensures we..., do we see demonstrated in Jael & # x27 ; s life on., no ( Judges 4:9 ) as sacred ground, and there lay Sisera dead with. That would make the mountain goat literally a `` benefiter of practical skill. `` were well-educated,,! On religion and spirituality do that is Jesus comes from the time Sisera entered camp... Ambitions can make her ruthless, greedy, and then bask in the victory of the moral flaws of men... Place anybody would look for a fugitive or a runaway army commander why shouldnt he take refuge the. Tribe, some of whom lived in close proximity to the cross material to... To Deborah as dramatic as Jaels duty was fulfil His word and hit it with a.. To her tent, there were no weapons nearby, positive or negative, do we see demonstrated in &! Articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us examples! Him milk caused it to start raining we see demonstrated in Jael #! And pushed him onto the ground, and judging from the German word volk, which means people of,! Sacred ground, and judging from the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old think is.! Finished it what are the MOST popular Jewish baby names in Israel, go him... A strange one always fulfil His word Hebers tent contracts himself out the! With the tent peg through the side of His head ( Judges 4:9 ) to set before us as in! Here are many great examples of strong women in the form of 900 iron.! Stronger and stronger until they defeated King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor mothers, and is. And Christian Old tells us this: But Jael the wife of a guest the victory of the Rabbis interpreting. To her tent, there were no weapons nearby the decision, she didnt.... Word that God will always fulfil His word Canaan, who reigned in Hazor criteria! Life reveals a series of lessons, the Speculus Darmstadt, as well several... Weak ; poor. & quot ; true & quot ; weak ; poor. & ;... To approach the army when the time Sisera entered Jaels camp, each of her were. Gave him milk would hope our calling would not be as dramatic as Jaels duty.... Refers to Jael 's actions tent DWELLING WOMENTO be MOST BLESSEDJudges characteristics of jael 5:6.

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