Judges EraOld Testament

Jael

Judges

When

c. 1200 BC· In the text

Placed by the story. The date is a rough guide. How the dates are worked out

Name meaning

"mountain goat, ibex" · Hebrew

About

Wife of Heber the Kenite, whose household was at peace with Jabin, king of Hazor. When Jabin's commander Sisera fled on foot from his defeat by Barak, she called him into her tent, covered him, and gave him milk when he asked for water. While he slept she drove a tent peg through his temple, then showed the body to Barak. Deborah had told Barak that the Lord would give Sisera into the hand of a woman, and the song of Deborah and Barak calls Jael blessed above women.

Relationships

ContemporaryDeborahJudge and prophetess whose song calls Jael blessed above women

Key Scripture AppearancesKJV

Judges 4:17

Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.Judges 4:17, KJV

Judges 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.Judges 4:18, KJV

Judges 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.Judges 4:21, KJV

Judges 4:22

And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.Judges 4:22, KJV

Judges 5:24

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

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