And her expression is placid - almost sweet - as she methodically sets about her task. Women of the Bible, Jean E. Syswerda, Zondervan Publishers, 1999. She managed to lead the enemys iron-wheeled chariots onto the marshy land where they became bogged down, useless and helpless. Jael (whose tent would have been separate from Heber's) [8] welcomed Sisera into her tent and covered him with a blanket. Here are five strong women with a summary of their story.. Jael - Judges 4. Remember that as a woman, you too have the ability and the right to discern Gods Truth and will, regardless of the war and chaos surrounding you. Grow, develop and die 5. If you are in a spiritual battle, what do you already have that you can use? Israel was at war with the Canaanites. They were responsible for Israels great victory over the Canaanites but ultimately, it was because of God (Judges 4:14-16). The name Delilah in Hebrew means "weak; poor.". She used a bowl of milk and a tent peg. In an astounding turn of events, the Shunammite woman gave birth to a child as promised, but, several years later, he died. Sometimes in spiritual warfare, we can mistake our spouse, children, friends, family, and coworkers for the enemy. 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. The name Jael means "mountain goat". Judges 4 and 5. 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.. He commanded Jael to watch over the tent and tell any inquirers that no one was there. 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. 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. With great distress, she went straight to Elisha for help, not even mentioning it to her husband. His family was at peace with King Jabin of Hazor. 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). She is materialistic and she loves power. 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. Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite. She commanded Barak to fight against Jabin's army in the Valley of Jezreel along the Kishon River. The Canaanite men kidnap the Bethlehem wife, brutally beat, torture, gang-rape her, and leave her for dead. 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. Then, however, another XYZ Burgers franchise opened just down the street from Jael's restaurant. Faith, not fear, wins. Jael could offer to help a fleeing enemy, as she did, but was not obligated to the ritual hospitality law. Jael was the wife of Heber who was a Kenite, the same ethnic group that Moses' father-in-law (Jethro) had been from (Judges 4:11). In Hebrew, Jael means mountain goat so it certainly doesnt sound like a complimentary name but in that culture, that was a symbol of strength and sureness so we cant read into any meaning from our modern culture. Eglon was another king who brutally treated the Israelites for 18 years, again a punishment handed down by God because of Israels unfaithfulness and idolatry. Then she used a tent peg and hammer. Sisera was the commander of the Canaanite army. But who would have thought that these tent-making tools could become such terrible murder weapons? Step 4 multiply values of x & y. II Kings chapter 4, where we find her story, is also the haftarah portion which corresponds to parshat Vayera which tells of the miraculous birth of Abraham and Sarah's son Isaac as well as the binding of Isaac.There are at least three clear parallels: hospitality, a prophecy to a barren woman that she will bear a son, and the near-death experience of that son. Jael is portrayed in the French silent film Jael and Sisera (1911), directed by Henri Andrani.[23]. According to tradition, both her and husband would have had separate tents, doubling her work, efforts and skill. She obeyed Mordecai when he told her to hide her faith and her people (Esther 2:10). Lessons from Deborah in the Bible (characteristics and leadership qualities), 20 Free Christian Coloring Pages printables for adults and children . But, any job God gives us to do He will pour out the courage and ability to do it. Her family were tinsmiths who made farming utensils, domestic items, and weapons. Further to this, at this point in time women did not usually go to war; therefore, Baraks insistence that Deborah came to battle with him was hugely unorthodox. She was judge of Israel at that time. (LogOut/ We too can and must be instruments of deliverance for others. Heber was the head of his home so he was the only one to really offer that. She was the wife of Israelite King Ahab. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The word folk comes from the German word volk, which means people. But only the chief man of the household could offer ritual hospitality. He entered the tent of a married woman. Esther's narrative depicts a young girl maturing into her God-given duty and setting an example for all time. Here are a few tips for when you find yourself in a battle with the enemy of your soul. Sisera was very tired, so he was sleeping. Andy Botwin (Justin Kirk) goes to a Rabbinical school to dodge military service where he meets Yael Hoffman. Through her husband Heber, Jael had kinship ties with the Israelites. We cannot and must not be passive in our struggle against our enemy and, more importantly, the enemy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. By Jaels one act, she saves Israel from oppression, reverses the traitorious bedmates of Israel with Canaan, demolishes the law of rape under the guise of hospitality, saves her own reputation, becomes a woman warrior in her own right, and fulfills Deborahs prophecy. All we know for sure, besides the account of her story, is that she was a Bedouin and the wife of Heber the Kenite. The tent peg went through the side of his head and into the ground. Characteristics Of Esther In The Bible . Key Scripture: Judges 4-5 (New International Version) But when trouble came knocking, she used what she had. The Israelite army, however, had strategically no chance of success since they were sorely lacking in soldiers and weaponry. [20] Here she was used to show the risk for men in following women, in groupings including positive figures and scenes such as Judith beheading Holofernes, but mostly ones with females depicted as over-powerful, such as Phyllis riding Aristotle, Samson and Delilah, Salome and her mother Herodias and the Idolatry of Solomon. Showtime Original Series WEEDS featured character Yael Hoffman (Meital Dohan) in 2006. Appearance of Other Varieties Jael, Shawna R.T. Atteberry, http://www.shawnaatteberry.com/2008/12/11/436/. She was a non-Israelite and did not worship Jehovah. If God has given you a word or vision, I want you to keep the faith that He will be faithful to complete it. "[14][15] According to Herbert Lockyer she may have acted out of practical necessity. Sisera arrived on foot at the tent of Heber on the plain of Zaanaim. She, very quickly, formed a plan and used what was available, what she had at hand. She will be blessed above all women (Judges 5:24) because of her heroic act. Why shouldnt he take refuge in the tent of a woman uninvolved in the war? Jael was no match for him, neither in size nor military strategy. Deborah is one of the major judges (charismatic military leaders, not juridical figures) in the story of how Israel takes the land of Canaan. She pulled down and packed the tents when they traveled to another place. Exactly who was Jael? It may not look the way we expect it to, and it can take a lot of trust to act when we dont feel well-equipped. She is the only female judge, the only one to be called a prophet, and the only one described as performing a judicial function. Sisera was pursued by the people of Israel at the request of Deborah the Judge. They are as punctual as one can be br1.einfach.org The people and the entire system have the utmost respect for being punctual. Her experience shows how God can maneuver events to fulfill prophecy. Your imperfections and disadvantages do not disqualify you from doing something great for God. And her ambitions can make her ruthless, greedy, and insensitive. Abigail showed great wisdom in acting quickly, swiftly, and speaking honorably to David. The irony of this battle was Baal, the main god of the Canaanites was considered god of storms and weather. When she didnt see anyone chasing after him, maybe that is when the decision was made. Jael is the second female warrior listed in the Bible. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. She also knew that Sisera would be killed if captured; therefore, she would kill him and thus cement a friendship with the victor. In that age women were the responsible party for making and setting up the tents in which they would live, wherever they settled. (Matthew 8:3), He healed on the Sabbath even though no work was supposed to be done. Jael Articles. There is no doubt that the tent Jael invited Sisera into was built by her own hands. Jael features in the book of Judges as a heroic woman who killed Sisera, the leader of King Jabin's Canaanite army. She was the wife of a man named Lappidoth. The common jackal's face is brown or red with white shades across its cheeks and throat. A . Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. A woman who, without her remarkably courageous deed, the descendants of Israel would have been lost. They were familiar to the Israelites through the connection of Jethro to Moses, and their skill as metalworkers was welcomed wherever they camped. If she did not act, Deborahs prophecy from God would not have been fulfilled. And just like the Virgin Mary, she became an unlikely heroine of a prophecy fulfilled. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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 recognized God's intentions to remove Saul from power and put David on the throne. These nuts claim that God ", "Maybe what happened to you was simply something going on in your mind or heart ", "Medical science has progressed tremendously in the last 200 years. Technically speaking, Yal is a female name, borne from the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old . Incidentally, this historic ground was located in Nephtali a land set apart for fleeing inhabitants of the 12 tribes of Israel. 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. She will be blessed above all women, On the day that the Israelites defeated Sisera, Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song, Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The story of Jael is quite an usual one. Required fields are marked *. Her family were priests, pathfinders, metalworkers, and wanderers, looking for work wherever they could find it. So it is that we should not play around with sin and iniquity in our lives. 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