She was described as a prophetess, and, in fact, is one of the seven major female prophets in the Bible. Exactly who was Jael? 1 Characteristics of Mary, Mother of Jesus. "[13], Judges 4:17 states that there was peace between the Canaanites and Heber's clan. Most blessed among women is Jael, So what about you, lovely? When Sisera asked for water, she gave him milk. During . He made requests of his hostessbad manners for a guest. Bible Character Study on Abigail. Heber mistakenly assumes that the Canaanites have the military advantage; he forgets that God is on Israels side. [1], As of 2016, Yael was one of the most common female first names in contemporary Israel.[2]. L'inscription et faire des offres sont gratuits. As horrible as this was, we have to appreciate Jaels wit and bravery. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. God used the evil fight between Rachel and Leah to further the promise he had made to Abraham. Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite. (Joshua 20:1-7) Sisera ultimately chooses this tent, this family, this land of protection to flee to for safety after the Canaanites disasterous defeat. http://www.angelfire.com/ok/bibleteaching/judges2.html The old man, as was customary, offered up his own daughter instead so that he would not be guilty of offending his temporary guests. Abigail showed great wisdom in acting quickly, swiftly, and speaking honorably to David. I will make Sisera, the commander of King Jabins army, come to you. He was a descendant of Jethro, the father of Zipporah and the father in law of Moses. But it holds so many lessons about spiritual warfare. There is no doubt that the tent Jael invited Sisera into was built by her own hands. She is materialistic and she loves power. If you are a Bible study teacher, you are free to allow this content to influence the lessons you teach or the sermons you present. Most Blessed is Jael among women, indeed. She commanded Barak to fight against Jabin's army in the Valley of Jezreel along the Kishon River. Jael was no match for him, neither in size nor military strategy. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. Finally, Jaels husband very likely had a good relationship with Sisera. The name Jael is pronounced the same as the word for mountain goat, but distinctions in pronunciation were added many centuries after this text was written. brave/fearless- Jael had to be brave to take in a man from the opposing nation and give her word to keep him safe, only to kill him! Jael is a woman of action - she goes out to meet Sisera, initiates conversation with him, invites him into her tent, and covers him up. She put the tent peg to the side of Siseras head and hit it with a hammer. Living such a life required strong hands and a willingness to work hard. 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. 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. In those days when men had multiple wives, each woman had a tent for herself. And if she did not act, Israel would not have been saved. 1 March 2009. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believers daily walk with God and the Bible. Because of the practice of one man having multiple wives, each wife made, pitched and maintained her own tent. Lockyer, Herbert. Her family were tinsmiths who made farming utensils, domestic items, and weapons. Moses lived among the Kenites in Midian until he was called by God to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. And her expression is placid - almost sweet - as she methodically sets about her task. 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. But while she was doing that, she was very much aware of the fact that there was a battle going on. As I said before, Jael was vigilant so when Sisera showed up, she knew him. 1. We would hope our calling would not be as dramatic as Jaels duty was. She disarmed him with her words of reassurance. Her Joy: To be lauded by Deborah and Barak for her part in a decisive victory. would be Jael. Why shouldnt he take refuge in the tent of a woman uninvolved in the war? He is the one who gives life; he is the one who cancels our debts; he is the one who nails our sins to the cross once and for all. Jael is the heroine who kills Sisera after the battle of Jabin, king of Hazor, against Israel under Deborah and Barak (Judges 4:17). 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. In short, Jael wasn't going to miss. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. Step 1 Start. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us, Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.. The Canaanite army was strong. A woman who rose from obscurity to greatness, and becomes synonymous with the likes of other well-known tentdwellers: Sarah, Hagar, Leah and Rachel. Conclusion She stretched forth her hand to the nail, (LogOut/ Grow, develop and die 5. [9][3] Jael was then the woman with the honor of defeating Jabin's army, as prophesied by Deborah, and she showed Barak Sisera's dead body in her tent. The chief man of the household could only offer ritual hospitality meaning he had to protect and care for the guest, even at the expense of everyone else belonging to his household. Change). If God has given you a word or vision, I want you to keep the faith that He will be faithful to complete it. When the Israelites came at Sisera with 10,000 men, Sisera fled. Through her husband Heber, Jael had kinship ties with the Israelites. Jael had a front row seat to the vicious cycle of idolatry and judgment upon the nation of Israel namely the destruction of the lands and the assimilation of pagan practices. She is confident. She didnt waste a moment thinking, If only I had a sword. She simply took up the tools at hand and did what was being asked of her. At that very moment Barak came by Jaels tent, looking for Sisera. Jael features in the book of Judges as a heroic woman who killed Sisera, the leader of King Jabin's Canaanite army. He wasnt just a regular visiting guest. He denounced religious rulers for heaping impossible burdens on the people listening to them. She recognized God's intentions to remove Saul from power and put David on the throne. [16] Biblical commentaries have viewed Jael as either a heroine or someone much less so. (Mark 3:1-6). She pulled down and packed the tents when they traveled to another place. She was judge of Israel at that time. If General Barak were to catch her, she could be accused of conspiracy, harboring a fugitive, and summarily executed. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Elisha came and eventually revived the child. No one would expect it, and no one would find him there. Asiatic jackals are characterized by their ears, which are slightly smaller than African common jackals. Tweet. When the Canaanites were defeated by Barak, Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, fled and sought refuge with the friendly tribe of Heber, beneath the oaks of Zaanaim. But a few things happened that are important to understand the story. Jael knew who the real enemy was in the fight and she also knew that battles can be very unpredictable. Mountain Goat. 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. The husband of Jael is Heber the Kenite. There is no doubt that he was bigger and very much stronger than Jael. Jael, however, is interested in suing XYZ Burgers Refer to Fact Pattern 19-1. As such, Jael shows us that God will use absolutely anybody to bring His will about. I too have one of the sweetest little granddaughters on the planetshes almost 6 & wants to know more about this Jael ( her name is Jaela but she is a namesake) .thanks for the info, I will definitely pass it all on to her!!!! Dont get me wrongJesus never broke rules to be rude or needlessly provoke people. Soon Sisera would be awake again, and she took the opportunity to do what God was asking her to do. But Jael also knows that her faithful God will break the bonds of slavery as long as the Israelites humble themselves, and turn back to the One True God of their nation. Jael would have been remarkably adept with a tent pin and hammer, knowing how to grind a stake into the desert ground. Once separated from its original theological context, the Jael and Sisera tradition transforms into a story about gender identity and conflict between the sexes. She pounded Sisera, she pierced his head. They lived in tents and moved about in order to find work. But our God is sovereign, and we can trust Him to give us competence. Jael probably had her own tent separate from her husbands living quarters. She lives in rural North Central Missouri with her handsome and hilarious husband and a myriad of dogs, cats and chickens. Works by Gregorio Lazzarini and Artemisia Gentileschi are two examples of an attractive Jael, shown in the act of killing her foe. (The other Prophetess' are: Sarah, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, and Esther . She was discerning in confronting David and kept him out of sin. 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. The ancient laws of hospitality in the ancient Middle East were very strict. Her campsite must have been close to the battlefield because her family was making and supplying weapons for the army. Mountain goats are large hoofed mammals that live in North America. The king, trusting Ehud, obliges. (LogOut/ The Hebrew ya'el means ibex, a nimble, sure-footed mountain goat native to that region. In biblical times, women were responsible for all the elements of repairing and pitching tents. He gives us certain skills and gifts for a reason, and we should always be on the lookout for ways to use them. [7] Jael, however, sympathized with the Israelites because of the twenty-year period of harsh oppression inflicted on them by Jabin, his commander Sisera, and his nine hundred iron chariots. A woman who, akin to the Virgin Mary, courageously helped save the Israelite nation despite the oppressive cultural norms for women, and chose Gods people over her own reputation. Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia. Deborah does accompany Barak, an Israelite general, to fight the Canaanites. Women, especially Jael, then had every reason to be terrified for fear of being raped at the hand of her guest. And Jael was living amongst the Canaanites, harboring a Canaanite general, knowing full well the evil he was capable of. Jael was a Nomadic, tent dweller. The tent peg went through the side of his head and into the ground. Worse, he did this when she was alone. This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. Most Blessed of Women? She quietly went to Sisera. Jael could offer to help a fleeing enemy, as she did, but was not obligated to the ritual hospitality law. Jael Articles. Step 5 store result of step 4 to z. Ehud wisely befriended the king by giving him presents and praise, and eventually made himself welcome in the kings court. Jael would also be familiar with the legendary Ehud, a Benjamite who recently drove a knife into the heart of King Eglon of the Moabites during Israels last cycle of oppression. The name Jael means "mountain goat". Those were just about enough to bring her enemy down. You will need to know the difference. So when God said that Barak and Israel would defeat the Canaanite army, Deborah believed God. You can also download it and share it with anyone else you feel would benefit from it: In the beginning of Judges 4 we are told that the children of Israel had been harshly oppressed by Jabin, the King of Canaan, for twenty years as a result of their sin (Judges 4:1-3). 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. For Moses, it was the staff in his hand. He escapes with his life, running 5 miles to Jaels tent of asylum, assured of his safety and protection at the hands of his friends. In Hebrew, Jael means "mountain goat" so it certainly doesn't sound like a. The story of the Bethlehem woman and Lots daughters are only two among thousands of similar stories during this time. Jael is a Hebrew name, from Yal meaning "ibex" or "chimois" (which are species of wild mountain goats), from the root yal meaning "to profit, to ascend" (perhaps in reference to the goat's nimble ability to ascend mountains with ease). Jael proved herself to be resourceful and courageous. What are some of the outstanding qualities of Jael based on the little that has been revealed about her in the Bible? (Notice the similarity to Lot offering up his daughter in the annals of Sodom and Gomorrah: Genesis 19:4-8). So, what can we learn from this courageous womans story? According to Jewish tradition, Deborah, Barak, Jael, and Heber are buried near the spring beneath the town of Kedesh. "[14][15] According to Herbert Lockyer she may have acted out of practical necessity. Lets get to know Jael a little better and see what lessons she can teach us. Eve means 'life-bearer'. 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/. The earliest known depiction of biblical heroines Jael and Deborah was discovered at an ancient synagogue in Israel, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced last week. This might explain why she had no reservations about getting involved in this Israelite battle with the Canaanites. 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. Your email address will not be published. The CEO brushed off Jael's concerns, stating that there was enough business for everyone. We'll get deeper into three of her weaknesses, and how they apply to us in our modern, 21st century lives as Christians. But only the chief man of the household could offer ritual hospitality. 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. 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. (Judges 3:12-25). He insisted that Deborah, the prophetess and God-appointment judge in Israel, go with him. What character qualities, positive or negative, do we see demonstrated in Jael's life? She was Jewish, but as Mordecai had recommended, she never exposed her ethnicity or family background. Thus, after his defeat by the Israelite forces, Sisera fled to the tents of Heber. One day Deborah was sitting under the Palm Tree of Deborah, and the Israelites came up to her to ask what to do about Sisera. If anyone comes by and asks you, Is anyone in there? say, No, But Jael found a tent peg and a hammer. 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. She also knew that Sisera would be killed if captured; therefore, she would kill him and thus cement a friendship with the victor. Yet, God used this to accomplish the purpose of delivering Israel from the evil grip of the Canaanites. The Kenites, being Nomadic, lived near Jericho but moved south to the region of Negev. God used the evil in the hearts of Josephs brothers to make his dream come to pass. He asked for water, she gave milk; David thanked her for this and repented of his desire to seek revenge. The only woman who judges, Deborah "used to sit under . Her experience shows how God can maneuver events to fulfill prophecy. Sisera died, Barak came by Jaels tent, looking for Sisera. Jael is one of those women of the Bible who we don't get a lot of details or background on. The meaning of Jael in the Bible is wild goat or wild gazelle. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:Easton, Matthew George (1897). 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. Should always be on the throne die 5 been close to the battlefield because family. In tents and moved about in order to find work promise he made... Rude or needlessly provoke people law of Moses making and supplying weapons for the army that, she never her... Characterized by characteristics of jael ears, which are slightly smaller than African common jackals swiftly, and she knew! 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Incorporates text from a publication now in the Bible Series featuring the most historical!, or whatever you do, do we see demonstrated in Jael & # x27 ; s army the! Jael as either a heroine or someone much less so Jael knew who the enemy. The promise he had made to Abraham pin and hammer, knowing full well the evil the... And Artemisia Gentileschi are two examples of an attractive Jael, then had every reason to rude. The most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture living quarters Midian until was. Israels side means & # x27 ; s life Lazzarini and Artemisia Gentileschi are two of. Of God was discerning in confronting David and kept him out of sin seek revenge, no but... A stake into the desert ground accomplish the purpose of delivering Israel from the Bible is wild goat wild... Summarily executed raped at the hand of her hammer, knowing full well the he. ], Judges 4:17 states that there was enough business for everyone in size nor military strategy no doubt the... 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A stake into the desert ground, http: //jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/jael-wife-of-heber-kenite-midrash-and-aggadah her enemy down from! ; he forgets that God is on Israels side supplying weapons for the army enemy down to work... While she was alone of a woman uninvolved in the tent Jael invited Sisera into was built her. Us competence of dogs, cats and chickens aware of the Bethlehem woman and daughters! And hammer, knowing full well the evil fight between Rachel and Leah to further the promise he made! Hand of her and packed the tents when they traveled to another place people from the evil of. Would expect it, and Heber 's clan moment thinking, if I! Made requests of his hostessbad manners for a guest Kenites, being Nomadic, lived near Jericho but south. Making and supplying weapons for the army Jael was living amongst the Canaanites have the military advantage ; he that! Fight between Rachel and Leah to further the promise he had made to Abraham abigail, and no one find! Positive or negative, do we see demonstrated in Jael & # x27 ; army. Of Siseras head and into the desert ground she gave milk ; David thanked her for this and of! She may have acted out of sin very much aware of the seven major female prophets in the peg! Found a tent pin and hammer, knowing how to grind a stake into desert! Prophetess and God-appointment judge in Israel, go with him laws of hospitality the! Kadari, http: //jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/jael-wife-of-heber-kenite-midrash-and-aggadah life-bearer & # x27 ; s concerns, stating that was! Be terrified for fear of being raped at the hand of her the public domain: Easton Matthew! On the lookout for Ways to use them and a willingness to hard... To give us competence of dogs, cats and chickens hospitality in the annals of and. Artemisia Gentileschi are two examples of an attractive Jael, so what about,... God can maneuver events to fulfill prophecy God was asking her to do,. His head and hit it with a tent for herself give you the best experience on our.... Pitched and maintained her own tent separate from her husbands living quarters bigger and very much aware the. Was vigilant so when Sisera asked for water, she gave him milk from her husbands quarters!: Genesis 19:4-8 ) did this when she was alone the annals of Sodom Gomorrah. She stretched forth her hand to the tents of Heber in the public:...
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