Jael went out to greet Sisera and said to him, "Come in, my lord. Come in with me. Do not be afraid." So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. Jael went out to greet SiseraJael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, plays a pivotal role in this narrative. The Kenites were a nomadic tribe with connections to the Israelites through Moses' father-in-law, Jethro. Jael's actions are significant in the context of the ongoing conflict between the Israelites and the Canaanites. Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, is fleeing after his defeat by Barak and Deborah. Jael's initiative in going out to meet Sisera suggests a deliberate and strategic move, highlighting her courage and resourcefulness. and said to him, “Come in, my lord.
Jael's invitation to Sisera is respectful and hospitable, using the term "my lord" to address him. This reflects the cultural norms of hospitality in the ancient Near East, where offering refuge and protection to a guest was a sacred duty. Her words are carefully chosen to put Sisera at ease, masking her true intentions. Come in with me.
The repetition of the invitation emphasizes Jael's insistence and the urgency of the situation. It also serves to reassure Sisera, who is seeking refuge and safety after his defeat. This phrase can be seen as a turning point, where Jael's tent becomes the setting for the fulfillment of God's deliverance of Israel from Canaanite oppression. Do not be afraid.”
Jael's assurance to Sisera not to fear is ironic, given the outcome of the story. It reflects the biblical theme of false security, where those who trust in human strength and alliances rather than God are ultimately disappointed. This phrase also foreshadows the unexpected reversal of roles, where the seemingly weaker party (Jael) overcomes the stronger (Sisera). So he entered her tent,
Sisera's decision to enter Jael's tent is significant. In the cultural context, a woman's tent was considered a private and safe space, where a man would not typically enter without invitation. This act of entering symbolizes Sisera's vulnerability and misplaced trust. It also sets the stage for the fulfillment of Deborah's prophecy that a woman would claim the victory over Sisera. and she covered him with a blanket.
Covering Sisera with a blanket is an act of hospitality, providing comfort and concealment. However, it also serves a dual purpose, as it lulls Sisera into a false sense of security. This action is reminiscent of other biblical narratives where deception leads to the downfall of the enemy, such as Rahab hiding the spies in Joshua 2. The blanket becomes a symbol of both protection and impending doom, as Jael prepares to carry out God's judgment on Sisera. Persons / Places / Events 1. JaelThe wife of Heber the Kenite, Jael plays a pivotal role in the defeat of Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army. Her actions are significant in the account of Israel's deliverance. 2. SiseraThe commander of the Canaanite army under King Jabin. He is fleeing from the Israelites after a defeat orchestrated by Deborah and Barak. 3. Heber the KeniteJael's husband, who had separated from the other Kenites and pitched his tent near Kedesh. His neutrality in the conflict sets the stage for Jael's actions. 4. Tent of JaelThe setting for this encounter, the tent symbolizes both hospitality and a place of refuge, which Jael uses to her advantage. 5. Deborah and BarakThough not directly mentioned in this verse, they are key figures in the broader account. Deborah, a prophetess and judge, and Barak, the military leader, are instrumental in the battle against Sisera. Teaching Points God Uses the UnexpectedJael, a non-Israelite woman, becomes a key figure in God's deliverance of Israel. This reminds us that God can use anyone, regardless of background, to accomplish His purposes. Courage in ActionJael's boldness in inviting Sisera into her tent and later taking decisive action demonstrates the importance of courage in following God's leading. Hospitality with DiscernmentWhile hospitality is a virtue, Jael's account teaches us the importance of discernment in our interactions, especially when dealing with those who oppose God's people. The Role of Women in God's PlanJael's actions highlight the significant roles women can play in God's redemptive history, challenging cultural norms and expectations. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Jael's invitation to Sisera reflect both cultural norms of hospitality and a strategic plan? How can we apply discernment in our acts of kindness today? 2. In what ways does Jael's account challenge our understanding of who God can use for His purposes? Can you think of other biblical examples where God used unexpected individuals? 3. How does the broader account of Judges 4, including Deborah and Barak, enhance our understanding of Jael's actions? What does this teach us about teamwork in fulfilling God's mission? 4. Reflect on a time when you felt called to take a bold action for God. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? 5. How can the account of Jael inspire us to be courageous in our faith, even when it requires going against societal expectations or norms? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 3:15The enmity between the serpent and the woman can be seen as a foreshadowing of Jael's role in defeating Sisera, highlighting the theme of God using unexpected means to fulfill His purposes. Hebrews 11:32-34This passage mentions Barak among the heroes of faith, indirectly connecting to Jael's account as part of the victory over Sisera. Psalm 83:9This Psalm references the defeat of Sisera, illustrating the lasting impact of this event in Israel's history. People Abinoam, Barak, Deborah, Ehud, Heber, Hobab, Israelites, Jabin, Jael, Kenites, Lapidoth, Naphtali, Sisera, ZebulunPlaces Bethel, Canaan, Harosheth-hagoyim, Hazor, Kedesh, Kedesh-naphtali, Kishon River, Moab, Mount Tabor, Ramah, ZaanannimTopics Afraid, Aside, Cover, Covered, Covereth, Covering, Coverlet, Entered, Fear, Jael, Ja'el, Mantle, Master, Meet, Rug, Sisera, Sis'era, Tent, Turn, TurnethDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 4:17-18 5578 tents Library Sin Slain
I want to picture to you to-night, if I can, three acts in a great history--three different pictures illustrating one subject. I trust we have passed through all three of them, many of us; and as we shall look upon them, whilst I paint them upon the wall, I think there will be many here who will be able to say, I was in that state once;" and when we come to the last, I hope we shall be able to clap our hands, and rejoice to feel that the last is our case also, and that we are in the plight of the …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860Whether the Grace of the Word of Wisdom and Knowledge is Becoming to Women?
Objection 1: It would seem that the grace of the word of wisdom and knowledge is becoming even to women. For teaching is pertinent to this grace, as stated in the foregoing Article. Now it is becoming to a woman to teach; for it is written (Prov. 4:3,4): "I was an only son in the sight of my mother, and she taught me [*Vulg.: 'I was my father's son, tender, and as an only son in the sight of my mother. And he taught me.']." Therefore this grace is becoming to women. Objection 2: Further, the grace …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica The First Blast of the Trumpet
The English Scholar's Library etc. No. 2. The First Blast of the Trumpet &c. 1558. The English Scholar's Library of Old and Modern Works. No. 2. The First Blast of the Trumpet &c. 1558. Edited by EDWARD ARBER, F.S.A., etc., LECTURER IN ENGLISH LITERATURE, ETC., UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON. SOUTHGATE, LONDON, N. 15 August 1878. No. 2. (All rights reserved.) CONTENTS. Bibliography vii-viii Introduction …
John Knox—The First Blast of the Trumpet A Nation's Struggle for a Home and Freedom.
ISRAEL'S VICTORIES OVER THE CANAANITES.--Josh. 2-9; Judg. 1, 4, 5. Parallel Readings. Hist. Bible II,1-4.1. Prin. of Politics X. That the leaders took the lead in Israel, That the people volunteered readily, Bless Jehovah! Zebulun was a people who exposed themselves to deadly peril, And Naphtali on the heights of the open field. Kings came, they fought; They fought, the kings of Canaan, At Taanach by the Waters of Megiddo, They took no booty of silver. Prom heaven fought the stars, From their …
Charles Foster Kent—The Making of a Nation Gamala. Chorazin.
These things determine the situation of Gamala:--1. It was "in lower Gaulon," in which, as we have seen, Bethsaida was. 2. It was "upon the lake [of Gennesaret]." 3. It was "over-against Tarichee." Compare the maps, whether in their placing of it they agree with these passages. Here was Judas born, commonly called 'Gaulanites,' and as commonly also, the 'Galilean.' So Peter and Andrew and Philip were Gaulanites; of Bethsaida, John 1:44; and yet they were called 'Galileans.' While we are speaking …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Blessings of Noah Upon Shem and Japheth. (Gen. Ix. 18-27. )
Ver. 20. "And Noah began and became an husbandman, and planted vineyards."--This does not imply that Noah was the first who began to till the ground, and, more especially, to cultivate the vine; for Cain, too, was a tiller of the ground, Gen. iv. 2. The sense rather is, that Noah, after the flood, again took up this calling. Moreover, the remark has not an independent import; it serves only to prepare the way for the communication of the subsequent account of Noah's drunkenness. By this remark, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Beth-El. Beth-Aven.
Josephus thus describes the land of Benjamin; "The Benjamites' portion of land was from the river Jordan to the sea, in length: in breadth, it was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." Let these last words be marked, "The breadth of the land of Benjamin was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." May we not justly conclude, from these words, that Jerusalem and Beth-el were opposite, as it were, in a right line? But if you look upon the maps, there are some that separate these by a very large tract of land, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews The Mountainous Country of Judea.
"What is the mountainous country of Judea? It is the king's mountain." However Judea, here and there, doth swell out much with mountains, yet its chief swelling appears in that broad back of mountains, that runs from the utmost southern cost as far as Hebron, and almost as Jerusalem itself. Which the Holy Scripture called "The hill-country of Judah," Joshua 21:11; Luke 1:39. Unless I am very much mistaken,--the maps of Adricomus, Tirinius, and others, ought to be corrected, which have feigned to …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
Here we will borrow Josephus' pencil, "Jericho is seated in a plain, yet a certain barren mountain hangs over it, narrow, indeed, but long; for it runs out northward to the country of Scythopolis,--and southward, to the country of Sodom, and the utmost coast of the Asphaltites." Of this mountain mention is made, Joshua 2:22, where the two spies, sent by Joshua, and received by Rahab, are said to "conceal themselves." "Opposite against this, lies a mountain on the other side Jordan, beginning from …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica He Does Battle for the Faith; He Restores Peace among those who were at Variance; He Takes in Hand to Build a Stone Church.
57. (32). There was a certain clerk in Lismore whose life, as it is said, was good, but his faith not so. He was a man of some knowledge in his own eyes, and dared to say that in the Eucharist there is only a sacrament and not the fact[718] of the sacrament, that is, mere sanctification and not the truth of the Body. On this subject he was often addressed by Malachy in secret, but in vain; and finally he was called before a public assembly, the laity however being excluded, in order that if it were …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh Miscellaneous Subjects.
Woman's Freedom. The Scriptural right for women to labor in the gospel as exhorters, teachers, preachers, etc., is questioned by many. To deny women such a privilege is contrary to the Christian spirit of equality, and a serious obstruction to pure gospel light. We (male and female) are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal. 3:28. In the kingdom of grace man and woman are on an equal footing so far as concerns the work of God. To explain some texts that seem to prohibit women from laboring in the gospel …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 4:18 NIVJudges 4:18 NLTJudges 4:18 ESVJudges 4:18 NASBJudges 4:18 KJV
Judges 4:18 Commentaries
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