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.. IMAGINE: Being a Nomadic, tent dweller who seizes the opportunity to save Israel from their cruel oppressor taking all is fair in love and war to a whole new level. The Kenites, being Nomadic, lived near Jericho but moved south to the region of Negev. Sisera was the commander of the Canaanite forces and so Barak and his men attacked Sisera. Second, Sisera went to the tent of a woman. I can laugh now, but at that time in my life I had only been burned by men. The Israelites finally destroyed him, Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite. This shows how desperate he was to not be found. Learn how your comment data is processed. She was Jewish, but as Mordecai had recommended, she never exposed her ethnicity or family background. Upset, Jael called XYZ Burgers to complain. (LogOut/ The old man, as was customary, offered up his own daughter instead so that he would not be guilty of offending his temporary guests. Come in. Jael and Judith were also used as propaganda figures by Protestants and Catholics alike to symbolize the violent overthrow of heresy. He asked for water, she gave him milk; It literally translates to "he shall ascend or go up". Heber (whose name means ally,) contracts himself out to the Canaanite army led by General Sisera for weapon-making. 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 ordered her to lie to protect his life. Therefore, Jael had some family ties to Israel. "[13], Judges 4:17 states that there was peace between the Canaanites and Heber's clan. We need only to skip ahead in the Bible to the life of Jesus to read more stories of rules broken. Characteristics Of Esther In The Bible . There is no way that she could win a physical fight with him. Sometimes in spiritual warfare, we can mistake our spouse, children, friends, family, and coworkers for the enemy. Through her husband Heber, Jael had kinship ties with the Israelites. Jael is perceptive enough to understand why this is happening: she equates the suffocating oppression her people are enduring due to Israels lack of faith and worship. Most Blessed of Women? ( Judges 4:9) For her role, Jael was praised as the "most blessed of women." Judges 5:24. The meaning of Jael in the Bible is wild goat or wild gazelle. Eve means 'life-bearer'. Judges 4:6 tells us that she summoned a man named Barak, who God chose to be the leader of Israels army against Jabins forces. We'll get deeper into three of her weaknesses, and how they apply to us in our modern, 21st century lives as Christians. of She crashed through and transfixed his temples. And understandably, her virtue is at risk of being violated. Barak said to Deborah, I will go and do this if you will go with me. 1 March 2009. Be patient, and wait for the opportune time when God will use you, while staying faithful and steadfast to His laws and commands. (Gen. 25:1, 2). 4:2). Brave: we often think that bravery is the absence of fear. The story of Jael in the Bible was one that completely shocked me the first time I read it. As the predicted battle between Canaan and Israel ensues, it is clearly evident that another David vs. Goliath scenario was playing out. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In the Baroque period, Jael continued to be a sexual figure in art. L'inscription et faire des offres sont gratuits. Bible References. She has much to teach us about the fact that God can and will use anybody as His chosen vessel. Maerl was commonest at 51-90 m depth with 20-39% live . In fact, God was going to sell Sisera into the hand of a woman instead, and give her the gloryand that woman (spoiler alert!) 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). 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. [4], Christian moral theorists during the Renaissance extensively referred to Jael as an example of tyrannicide. Jael saw her opportunity to act and seized it. Reminiscent of the Egyptians plight in the parting of the Red Sea, the Canaanites are slaughtered, with Sisera being the lone survivor. 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. Heber, Jaels husband, was a smart enough businessman so as to keep peace with Jabin, the king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor and who had oppressed the Israelites for the past twenty years. Lockyer, Herbert. Sisera was the commander of the Canaanite army. 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. There was a woman prophet named Deborah. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon. He entered the tent of a married woman. This was a great day for Israel as God defeated King Jabin of Canaan for the Israelites. God equips His people for the work He puts in front of them. One day, I was sobbing and crying out to God that I wouldnt have a boy. They also can tolerate dehydration and high body temperatures. However, she is not the only woman of valour detailed in this particular part of the Bible. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. and then I heard Judges 4. The story of how she met the king is a fascinating study on an interesting lady. This ordinary woman does something extra-ordinary, and shows herself to be a willing, and committed, chosen instrument for God. Newsom and Ringe consider her a survivor caught up in her husband's politics. Her decision was an easy one. Despite their resemblance to goats, and their name, they are actually not closely related to goats. She realizes that her womanhood is actually a strength to be leveraged in her leadership, not a weakness to be discarded. Andy Botwin (Justin Kirk) goes to a Rabbinical school to dodge military service where he meets Yael Hoffman. 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/. Women of the Bible, Jean E. Syswerda, Zondervan Publishers, 1999. God gave the Israelites a seemingly impossible defeat against the superior Canaanite army thus giving them access to the fertile plains of Jezreel and Esdraelon. We would hope our calling would not be as dramatic as Jaels duty was. Sisera was a warrior. Deborah, also spelled Debbora, prophet and heroine in the Old Testament (Judg. In an astounding turn of events, the Shunammite woman gave birth to a child as promised, but, several years later, he died. 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.. The word folk comes from the German word volk, which means people. How much more should we glorify God with larger parts of our lives? A guest, once ritually invited into the home, had to be protected and cared for, even at the expense of everyone else in the house even at the expense of giving the woman of the house to the guest of honor for his lascivious pleasure. During the time of the Judges There was a woman prophet named Deborah. Tweet. Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army fled from the battle on foot. She calls for Barak from Kedesh in Naphtali to go up against Jabin and his army as the Lord will turn him over to Barak. Step 5 store result of step 4 to z. You are not a second-class citizen, and you have the right to assert Gods will. 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. It is believed they served customers wherever they traveled in the way of metalworkers. Jenna Martin is a youth ministry worker and freelance writer who specializes in Bible, health, and tourism topics. For Elijah on Mount Carmel it was the power of prayer. It so happened that Jael saw him coming, so she went out to meet him and said, Sir, come into my tent. She Was Weak In Loyalty. Blessed Among Women. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. Here are some highlights of Queen Esther of Persia's noble character: Obedience (2:10, 15) Pleasant/Friendly (2:9) Wise enough to seek advice and follow it (2:10, 15, 20; 4) Boldness - courage in action, despite realistic fear (4:16, 7:3) Faith (5:4) True humility (7:3-4, 8:1-2) Growing Your Own Queen Esther Characteristics Heber, Jaels husband, had a good relationship with the Caananites and thats why Sisera felt comfortable to find refuge in their camp. Deborah therefore agreed to go along with him but prophesied that 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. I also want you to recognise that you are capable of bringing the word that God has given you to pass. No one would expect it, and no one would find him there. He fell asleep and while he slept, she killed him. Before we talk anymore about Jael, we have to talk about what was going on in Israel at the time. She would have had no settled home, moving from place to place as a way of obtaining food, finding pasture for livestock, or otherwise making a living. I heard the Lord say, your little girls name is Jael, she will be a symbol of the bondage I will break in your marriage. He sees our potential in Him, which is why it is important that we dont disqualify ourselves from going towards the things that we know that He has called us be, do or have. He asked for water, she gave milk; Jael is portrayed in the French silent film Jael and Sisera (1911), directed by Henri Andrani.[23]. The wife of Heber the Kenite, The Lord will allow a woman to defeat Sisera (Judges 4:9). As such, Jael shows us that God will use absolutely anybody to bring His will about. Only an act of God would make this plan work. She managed to lead the enemys iron-wheeled chariots onto the marshy land where they became bogged down, useless and helpless. Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 10:00, "What are the most popular Jewish baby names in Israel? Lessons from Deborah in the Bible (characteristics and leadership qualities), 20 Free Christian Coloring Pages printables for adults and children . It is believed they served customers wherever they traveled in the way of metalworkers. Eve is the Great Mother, Everywoman. Conclusion Sisera was, however, unaware that Hebers wife, Jael, whose tent he ran to, sympathized with the Israelites because of the twenty years of oppression by Jabin, his commander Sisera, and his 900 iron chariots. Blessed is she among women. A distinctive honor not just given to the Virgin Mary, but also to a little-known nomadic warrior who descended from a priestly clan in 1125 B.C. I will make Sisera, his chariots, and his army come to the Kishon River. She was nowhere near ready for a battle of any kind. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Long story short, we have a vibrant, fun little girl named Jael who is the joy of our lives. She is passionate about helping Christian women to grow in Christ, improve their marriages and creatively worship. Jael showed Sisera great hospitality. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. But a few things happened that are important to understand the story. Dont get me wrongJesus never broke rules to be rude or needlessly provoke people. Turn aside, my lord, she said to him. Jael was a woman in the Bible who helped the Israelites subdue Jabin the Canaanite king by single-handedly killing the commander of his army, Sisera. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. But as Ive grown in my walk with Christ, Ive come to appreciate that the Bible is about seeing God in the realness of our human experiences. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. That would make the mountain goat literally a "benefiter of practical skill.". He was a powerful and cruel man who oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. midrash praises Yael, wife of Heber the Kenite, and includes her among the devout women converts, together with Hagar, Asenath, Zipporah, Shiphrah, Puah, the daughter of Pharaoh, Rahab, and Ruth (Yalkut Shimoni on Joshua, para . Her Joy: To be lauded by Deborah and Barak for her part in a decisive victory. Her campsite must have been close to the battlefield because her family was making and supplying weapons for the army. Her hair is neatly braided and pinned back. But if you will not go withme, I will not go. I will go with you,she said, but you will receive nohonor on the road you are aboutto take, because the Lord willsell Sisera into a womans hand.Judges 4:8, 9. Thus, Jael was very capable of holding a tent peg in one hand and utilize the use of a hammer, or maul, in the other. She pounded Sisera, she pierced his head. The story of Jael in the Bible is short but it is power-packed with lessons about spiritual warfare. He commanded Jael to watch over the tent and tell any inquirers that no one was there. Her family were priests, pathfinders, metalworkers, and wanderers, looking for work wherever they could find it. 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. I was 2 months pregnant sitting in Gods presence when I heard the him say, You are having a girl. In Renaissance works the subject is one of the most commonly shown in the Power of Women topos, with other biblical women who triumphed over men, such as Judith or Delilah. At her feet he sank, he fell; It was effective, but it was also violent and gory. Jael did not kill Sisera out of personal anger or revenge. Showtime Original Series WEEDS featured character Yael Hoffman (Meital Dohan) in 2006. He had separated himself and his wife Jael from the other Kenites and pitched their tent in the plain of Zaanaim, which is near Kedesh in the tribal territory of Naphtali. What are some of the outstanding qualities of Jael based on the little that has been revealed about her in the Bible? We dont know if Jael originally intended to kill Sisera. Jaels primary job, though, was to pitch tents, and she had become an expert in all phases of making, pitching, and striking such dwellings. Yes, trouble might come from these people but if that is the case, they are only instruments in the hands of the enemy. They are thus able to go several days without drinking water. Incidentally, this historic ground was located in Nephtali a land set apart for fleeing inhabitants of the 12 tribes of Israel. 5:2426) recounts: Extolled above women be Jael, Elisha came and eventually revived the child. Want to know how? Jael's actions are mentioned in the song. All the Women of the Bible. Lets get to know Jael a little better and see what lessons she can teach us. While we are not sure about her faith, we are sure about her courage. If she did not act, Deborahs prophecy from God would not have been fulfilled. In Hebrew, Jael means "mountain goat" so it certainly doesn't sound like a. What is important is that when the time came to make the decision, she didnt hesitate. Judges 5:7 distinctly describes her leadership as of a maternal variety: she nourishes Israel; she does not try to adopt a man's hardness or masculinity. So the Israelites became stronger and stronger until they defeated King Jabin of Canaan. Where he sank, there he fell dead. In her free time youll probably find her writing, lifting, or doting on her handsome cat. The king, trusting Ehud, obliges. And Jael took the stake and put it on his temple and struck it with a hammer. She drove a tent peg through his temple. The Kenites were a Nomadic tribe of people who lived near Canaan. The name Jael means "mountain goat". Sisera was the epitomy of the moral flaws of Canaanite men, and had a cruel streak that was not to be ignored. Feminine hospitality is a powerful thing to a man. Jabin's army was led by Sisera (Judg. A deeper understanding of people in the Bible. Deborah does accompany Barak, an Israelite general, to fight the Canaanites. The Canaanite men kidnap the Bethlehem wife, brutally beat, torture, gang-rape her, and leave her for dead. At the time a prophetess named Deborah was judge over Israel, and people went to her in matters of justice. Sisera died, Barak came by Jaels tent, looking for Sisera. Shenk, http://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/jael.html, Jael Wife of Heber The Kenite: Midrash and Aggadah, Tamar Kadari, http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/jael-wife-of-heber-kenite-midrash-and-aggadah. Your imperfections and disadvantages do not disqualify you from doing something great for God. He was such a coward. Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names translates this name with Ibex. She had to ignore all the fear, all the what-ifs.. And Jael took Sisera and pushed him onto the ground from the bed. Worse, he did this when she was alone. She is very ambitious. Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite who is celebrated in the Song of Deborah in the Book of Judges in chapter five. A Character Study. That is why Sisera ran to Jaels tent (Judges 4:17) because he believed that he would be safe there. Jael, said Graybill, is a "highly unusual biblical heroine." The text identifies her as a "wife," but she has no husband. They were well-educated, wealthy, wives, mothers, and judging from the number of solo female portraits single women or widows. Judges 4 tells us that God sold Israel into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan because the Israelites were doing what was evil in His sight. With the finger of God directing judgment on the oppressors, hail, sleet and hurricane-force winds were driven into the faces of the Canaanite army, blinding their vision and mucking the grounds into which the chariots iron wheels get buried. Jael (whose tent would have been separate from Heber's) [8] welcomed Sisera into her tent and covered him with a blanket. I could not believe that such violence was in the Bible. No matter how difficult or threatening the situation, God's power within us is greater than we can ever fully see or comprehend. Note that the death of Sisera was unusual because the general of the Canaanite army lost his life by the hands of a woman, which in the culture of the Ancient Near East, was considered to be the greatest humiliation a soldier could ever experience. Hospitality laws in the middle east, at that time, were very strict. 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. A woman who, without her remarkably courageous deed, the descendants of Israel would have been lost. Both sides in the conflict would have considered the Kenites a neutral party. If you are in a spiritual battle, what do you already have that you can use? Jaels people were at peace with his. The Israelites were clearly able to see their God, Yahweh, was superior to the Canaanite god, Baal. 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. And Jael said, "Strengthen in me today, Lord, my arm on account of you and your people and those who hope in you." Running to a womans tent and laying under a rug suggests he felt the need to hide either from Jabin because he lost the battle or from the Israelites, his enemy. What was even more unexpected is that this woman was not actually Hebrew, being a Kenite. They had the latest technology in the form of 900 iron chariots. Mountain Goat. Blessed is she among women in tents. but not ", Who Was Jael In The Bible? 1. Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite who is celebrated in the Song of Deborah in the Book of Judges in chapter five. Made of cells , at least one 2. Your email address will not be published. Heber and his household were at peace with Jabin, the king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Even when we dont feel skilled or equipped or prepared, He ensures that we are for the sake of His glory. Situations are ever-changing in this life and opportunities pass by quickly. Jael was the wife of Heber - "Now, Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Moses' brother-in-law, Hobab, had moved away from the other members of his tribe and pitched his tent by the oak of Zaanannim near Kedesh." (4:11) "Meanwhile, Sisera ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because Heber's family was on friendly terms . And when God steps in, His goal is to bring an end to the battle once and for all. His family was at peace with King Jabin of Hazor. So he died. A woman who proved to be an early proponent of womens rights, eliminating the threat of sanctioned rape under the guise of hospitality. 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. 5 Things You Should Know about the ESV Bible Translation. Jezebel Who was Jezebel? Not a man was left, except Sisera that is, who managed to dismount his horse and run away on foot to the tent of Jael (Judges 4:17). 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. (Matthew 23), He touched lepers even though the rules of his day said that doing so would make him unclean. Who was Melchizedek and Why was He so Important?The Bible Story of Queen EstherThe Life of Ruth - 5 Essential Faith Lessons3 Things You Didnt Know About Mary (Mother of Jesus). She recognized God's intentions to remove Saul from power and put David on the throne. She understood that God alone is able to do what he says he will do. "[12], There is also a reference to the story of Jael in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.
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