. We are all living in a world which, in the main, has rejected God and His kingdom ways. The removal of the zealous judge Ehud again left his infatuated countrymen without the restraint of religion. But the honour for destroying the commander of the opposing army was given to a woman. Heber the Kenite was, according to the Book of Judges in the Bible, a descendant of Reuel the Midianite, the father-in-law of Moses. It tells the stunning story of the heroine Jael driving a tent-peg into and through bad-guy Sisera's skull as he slept. She stretched forth her hand to the nail, [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. And she smote Sisera; she crushed his head, This is not a story about physical strength but about strength of commitment to God. Found insideBe Inspired by Deborah, A woman of great power and influence. Warrior, Dancer, Seductress, Queen: Women in Judges and Biblical lsrael. The mother expects her son to be able to sexually violate captive women; instead, he has become a woman’s captive, and she has left him despoiled. “Controlling Perspectives: Women, Men, and the Authority of Violence in Judges 4–5.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 58 (1990): 389–411. Jael's actions are mentioned in the song. And Jael took the stake and put it on his temple and struck it with a hammer. She is the 4th judge mentioned in the book of Judges, and the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. "[14][15] According to Herbert Lockyer she may have acted out of practical necessity. “Jael in Judges 4.” Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 107 (1995): 240–246. Once inside the tent, Sisera tells Jael to stand at the entrance and respond negatively to whoever asks whether anyone is inside (4:18–20). Deeply faithful to the text, but daring in her interpretive approach, she draws stunning parallels between biblical passages to reveal previously overlooked layers of meaning. He commanded Jael to watch over the tent and tell any inquirers that no one was there. Jasper was mentioned as a stone that made up the walls of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. Jael’s story is recounted in Judges 4 and in the poetic Song of Deborah in Judges 5. God's . 41. Her use of the address “my lord” may also be a bit of verbal foreplay; this address is often used in the Bible by women towards men with whom they have or will have a sexual relationship (cf. Conway, Colleen M. Sex and Slaughter in the Tent of Jael: A Cultural History of a Biblical Story. Commander of the Canaanite army of King Jabin of Hazor, who is mentioned in of the Hebrew Bible. When the battle goes disastrously for Sisera and his troops, rather than die with his men on the battlefield, Sisera flees and goes to Jael’s tent, for there is “peace” between King Jabin and Jael’s husband, Heber the Kenite (4:17). Our behaviour changes, we no longer live to please ourselves but look to serve and please the One who loves us. In the sacred seclusion of this almost inviolable sanctuary (Pococke, Easst, 2, 5) Sisera might well have felt himself absolutely secure from the incursions of . What did judges do in the Bible? Jael thus fulfills Deborah’s prophecy, but she confounds other expectations. These two women are credited with Sisera's defeat and are mentioned in Deborah's song celebrating these events in Judges chapter 5. I simply wish I was born straight, but I can not fathom life with a man. Behold I will throw him down on the ground from the bed on which he sleeps; and if he does not feel it, I know that he has been handed over." Jael. The fourth of the judges who ruled over the Jewish people after the death of Joshua, was not a man, but a woman, one of the most famous of all times, the Prophetess Deborah.Before her were Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar, the latter only for a short time.. After Ehud's death the Jews forsook the ways of the Torah and adopted many of the idols of the people about them. Jael is a popular Bible figure, famous for her brutal act of violence. At that time, Deborah was the ruling judge in Israel. Jdg 4:11-12. The book of Judges tells the story of Deborah, the only female judge mentioned in the Bible, who is stirred to action when she sees her people being oppresse. The Kenites were related to the Midianites. Tikva Frymer-Kensky, updated by Caryn Tamber-Rosenau by She was a leader of Israel. . The following info provides a concise biography with facts and . One of the major points was the vulnerability of women then. New York: 1998. Extolled above women in the tent. Three Characteristics of Commitment to God. Jael features in the book of Judges as a heroic woman who killed Sisera, the leader of King Jabin's Canaanite army. Likewise, is the name Jael in the Bible? The Bible is our story. Help tell it. Thanks Sharon…whew. T here are many great examples of strong women in the Bible to learn from. Categories: Women in the Old Testament. What does Yael mean? 8 God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. Found insideThis book is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core. In this book, Elizabeth Dermody Leonard examines the lives and experiences of more than forty women in California who are serving lengthy prison sentences for killing their male abusers. Found insideBut the most innovative aspect of this book is the section devoted to the many females who in the scriptures do not even have names. Bloomington, Indiana: 1988. Others provide warning examples.—1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 6:12. Who is God? How does God act in our lives? How are we to act as God's faithful people? Joshua, Judges, and Ruth represent a chorus of voices reflecting on Israel's earliest days in its land. She is identified as the wife of Heber. Limitless horizon is a place to find hope and expectancy in the truth of God’s Word, a space to grow in faith together. Jael has forcibly penetrated Sisera and left him destroyed. This was where king Jabin was assembling his large army. What the reason was of his leaving them, is not known; but there was a special providence of God in it. [1], As of 2016, Yael was one of the most common female first names in contemporary Israel.[2]. Lillian Klein contributes to that wealth with her absorbing studies of key figures in the narrative material: Deborah, Jephtha's daughter, Delilah, Jael, the whore of Gaza, Kaleb's daughter Achsah, Hannah, Esther, the wife of Job, David's ... Deborah is one of the most influential women of the Bible. In fact, the events are mentioned as taking place in the "days of Jael" - an honour to have the date identified with her - and she is called " the most blessed among women " for her actions. Did this make Jael wonder what would happen to her when he awoke? Yael was the wife of Kini, a member of Jethro's family father-in-law,of Moshe. Sisera was in flight and Barak in pursuit. "This book traces the retelling of the biblical story from Judges 4-5 in ancient retellings of the Bible, visual art, poems, plays, and novels. When Israel cries out to the Lord for help after twenty years of oppression from Jabin, king of Canaan, He brings deliverance as Barak defeats the heavily fortified army, slaying every single . 5:24–26) recounts: Extolled above women be Jael, Reading the Women of the Bible takes up two of the most significant intellectual and religious issues of our day: the experiences of women in a patriarchal society and the relevance of the Bible to modern life. To survive in this world we need to be flexible and pick our battles carefully, big or small. She also knew that Sisera would be killed if captured; therefore, she would kill him and thus cement a friendship with the victor. It seems she was popular in ancient times too, and her story is told twice in the Hebrew Bible. Let's discover the story of Samson and Delilah. She was a songwriter and minstrel leading her people in worship after the victory had been won. According to Jewish tradition, she was one of the "seven prophetesses", with Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail and Esther. And Jael said, "Strengthen in me today, Lord, my arm on account of you and your people and those who hope in you." Categories: Women in the Old Testament. Thank you, your encouragement is appreciated! He asked for water, she gave him milk; “Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.”, Jael would have had no choice but to accompany her husband northwards. “he that thought to destroy Israel with his many iron chariots is himself destroyed with one iron nail.”. “From Gender Reversal to Genderfuck: Reading Jael through a Lesbian Lens.” In Bible Trouble: Queer Reading at the Boundaries of Biblical Scholarship, eds. "[12], There is also a reference to the story of Jael in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. D. These women stand in contrast to Samson's Philistine wives. “Eroticism and Death in the Tale of Jael.” In Gender and Difference in Ancient Israel, edited by Peggy L. Day, 43–57. Instead, Jael kills him. When Sisera got to her tent she invited him in and he entered without fear because " there was peace between Jabin…and the house of Heber ". Jewish Women's Archive, Faceted Application of Subject Terminology, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jael&oldid=1029736941, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Bertie also mentions "Jael, wife of Heber" in. However, concrete dating has proven slippery. She, very quickly, formed a plan and used what was available, what she had at hand. Commitment is defined as a promise, or agreement, to something that you believe in. She then shows his dead body to Barak, who has come in pursuit of the enemy general (4:21–22). Jael: Mountain goat. Blessings. In her celebration of Sisera's defeat, Deborah mentions Jael once near the beginning of her song and then returns to tell Jael's story at length near the end. In May, while doing my daily Bible reading, I came once again to Judges 4, which we're covering today. New Haven, CT: Yale, 2014. Although Barak commanded the Israelite army in battle, it was Deborah and Jael who played a major role in Sisera's defeat. Sisera was pursued by the people of Israel at the request of Deborah the Judge. Women of the Bible: Old Testament features: • Sarah & Hagar • Tamar • Miriam • Rahab • Deborah & Jael • Bathsheba • Naomi & Ruth • Esther Women of the Bible: Old Testament uses a chart format to review the following ... Jael was apparently beautiful, because merely hearing her voice would cause men to recall her and would arouse their lust (BT Lit. What lessons can we learn from Deborah and Jael concerning commitment? 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 . (Exodus 28:20) Jemima: A little dove. Jael Wife of Heber The Kenite: Midrash and Aggadah, Biblical Women in World and Hebrew Literature, Modesty and Sexuality in Halakhic Literature, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright © 1998–2021, Jewish Women's Archive. Because of Barak's insistence that Deborah accompany him into battle, the honour of defeating Sisera would go to a woman. [23], This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). Answer. After God had appeared to Abram and promised him a homeland and a heritage ( Genesis 12:1-4 ), ten years went by, and he and Sarah still had no baby ( Genesis 16:1 ). was a prophet mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in 2 Kings 22:14-20 and 2 Chronicles 34:22-28. 1. Women in Drag: Gender and Performance in the Hebrew Bible and Early Jewish Literature. As he drew near, Jael invited him to enter her tent. [17] Parallels between the details of Jael's actions and Ehud's assassination of Eglon have led van Wijk-Bos to propose Jael as killing Sisera in a manner similar to his conquering army's use of rape. When Sisera asked for water, she gave him milk. It is gory, but so is David and Goliath, which is often used as a children’s story. One in a series of twenty Old Testament verse-by-verse commentary books edited by Max Anders. Includes discussion starters, teaching plan, and more. Great for lay teachers and pastors alike. Jael came out of her tent to meet him and invited him in. 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. Joshua and Judges focuses attention on themes and tensions at the beginning of Israel's story in the Bible. How do these books represent conquest, war, trauma, violence against women and their marginalization? ", Frymer-Kensky, Tikva. Bible References. Life is described in all it’s grittyness there in Scripture, but there is always something to speak to us too – thanks for responding! To risk our relationships, popularity or success. Pseudo-Philo refers to Jael in the book, Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum: Now Jael took a stake in her left hand and approached him, saying, "If God will work this sign with me, I know that Sisera will fall into my hands. Where is the name Jael in the Bible? You can read about them in Judges 4 and 5. Additionally, Sisera is described as lying “despoiled” or “destroyed” (5:27), a word sometimes used in the Bible to speak about a woman being sexually violated. Her right hand to the workman's hammer, Fewell, Danna Nolan, and David M. Gunn. That is the entrance, nearly at the end of Judges 5, of Sisera’s nameless mother, waiting in vain with her attendants for her son to return home. 5.0 out of 5 starsWomen of the Bible: Jael's Story. C. Jael was the woman who drove the tent peg through the head of Sisera. Jael and Judith are two . Below is a list of women found in the Bible that have been named as well as the scriptures they are mentioned in. The definition and outline of Jael is as follows: According to the Old Testament she was the wife of Heber the Kenite and mentioned in the Book of Judges as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of king Jabin. Even though Samson falls in love with Delilah, she's swayed by the Philistines, the enemies of the Israelites, to find the source of Samson's strength. : 9 : 166-167 Marital laws in the Bible favored men, as did inheritance laws . Thank you for building us up in our faith! In their own unique way they each played their part and demonstrated their commitment to God. For this, Deborah states that she was "blessed above women." (5:24) In Judges, then, Jael is lauded as a heroine, who did the very work of God, but, ultimately, credit for the deliverance was given to God. [citation needed] According to Jack Sasson, there are reasons to doubt whether the events narrated in Judges 4 ever occurred. They had made peace with Jabin, the King of the Canaanites (Judges 4:17-18). Whether we love the Lord with all our heart is tested in those moments. Jael or Yael (Hebrew: יָעֵל‎ Yāʿēl) is a woman mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible, as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of King Jabin. Something to think about ???? Jael has accomplished what Barak could not, and Sisera has indeed been delivered into the hand of a woman. When you read that David chopped off Goliath’s head and carried it to Jerusalem…Interesting response, do we find it harder to deal with because she is a woman? When the Israelites came at Sisera with 10,000 men, Sisera fled. When God told Deborah to raise an army and deliver Israel from Jabin, she commanded her general, Barak, to assemble men and lead them into battle. New!! Jael's story is interwoven with the account of Deborah, a prophetess, who was the leader of Israel at this time. 2 The battle, then Sisera fled. Based on the scriptures, he was a part of the confederacy against Joshua. There are fewer women mentioned in the Bible, and few of them are the star of a specific chapter or book. [6], Deborah, a prophetess and judge, advised Barak to mobilize the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulon on Mount Tabor to do battle against King Jabin of Canaan. Jael or Yael (Hebrew: יָעֵל ‎ Yāʿēl) is a woman mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible, as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of King Jabin. At the same time, Sisera’s mother’s crude reference to the human spoil she anticipates prompts a parallel with what Jael has done to her son. Would she assist her husband’s ally, the enemy of Israel, or would she seize an opportunity to act for God and His people. This book is part of our Israelite series. Found inside – Page 1And Ruth, because it demonstrates the far-reaching impact of a righteous character. K. Lawson Younger Jr. shares literary perspectives on the books of Judges and Ruth that reveal ageless truths for our contemporary lives. 6 "In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths. We engage with the culture that we are in, for our heads are in the world, but our hearts are committed to God. The name Jael means "mountain goat." 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. Found insideIn Violence in the Hebrew Bible texts of violence in the Hebrew Bible and their reception history are discussed. [9] Noting the maternal and erotic undertones of the text and some commentators' qualms about Jael's seductive and violent act, Bachmann points out that the Bible itself has nothing but praise for Jael, called most blessed of women in the Song of Deborah. Taking as Sisera’s intent his mother’s statement about womb-captives, by killing Sisera, Jael has prevented the rape of Israelite women. Exhausted, but now relaxed and feeling safe, Sisera fell asleep. When Sisera approaches her tent, Jael goes out to greet him, invites him in, covers him with a blanket or rug (the word used here appears nowhere else in the Bible, so its meaning is uncertain), and, at his request for a little water, gives him milk. Lessons from Deborah in the Bible 31 Days of Women from Scripture Day Nine Lessons from Deborah. If you have any questions related to the Bible, please feel free to . [16] Biblical commentaries have viewed Jael as either a heroine or someone much less so. . This Sisera is standing when he is fatally struck by Jael; he then sinks to the ground “between [NRSV, to]” her feet, a fallen warrior. We have a version written in prose, as part of a history (Judg. Niditch, Susan. His captain-general was Sisera (Judges 4:1-3). On that day Jabin, the king of Canaan, was subdued by the Israelites until eventually they destroyed him. Sunday, tomorrow, I will be preaching about "Women Warriors in the Bible." The two women I will focus on are Deborah and Jael. But he did not feel it, because he was very groggy. The Scroll of Esther is read on Purim from a parchment scroll. Works by Gregorio Lazzarini and Artemisia Gentileschi are two examples of an attractive Jael, shown in the act of killing her foe. As he lies asleep, exhausted from the battle, Jael takes a tent peg and drives it through his forehead into the ground. See more » Jael and Sisera. Jael as his wife, would have had little choice but to go with him. I appreciate how you drew out the conclusions about commitment to God. The author has created a story that could have taken place at that time an included a lot of historical detail to give a sense of what life might have been like for Jael. Many scholars have argued, based on its linguistic features, that the poetic account is earlier than the prose version, and in fact that the Song of Deborah may be one of the oldest parts of the Hebrew Bible. But God is our defender, and He will honour our obedience. Jael - Jael or Yael (Hebrew: יָעֵל Ya'el, meaning Ibex) is a woman mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible, as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of King Jab. Wikipedia. Yael is mentioned extensively in the book of Judges chapters IV and 5. What the reason was of his leaving them, is not known; but there was a special providence of God in it. I don't care about rewards and I do not fear punishment. Women of the Bible - Deborah and Jael Women Who Fought for God by Kathryn Capoccia Young Adults Sunday School Class All Scripture references are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (C) 1978 by the New York Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. And to this day, she is still one of the most well-known women from the Bible. Jael plays an important role in the story of Israel's wars with the Canaanites, described in the Book of Judges. Missing or empty |title= (help), "What are the most popular Jewish baby names in Israel? He asked her to stand guard at the door of the tent and keep his presence secret. Jael, one brave sister! Whether we take the easy route and follow the crowd or whether we press on in to be obedient to God’s ways. Jael Shows to Barak, Sisera Lying Dead, James Jacques Joseph Tissot. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. Scholars have debated the relationship between the prose account and the poem, with some arguing to treat them as two separate traditions, perhaps one an elaboration on or rewriting of the other, or perhaps both based on earlier oral traditions. While Deborah almost always is at the top of the list of biblical female warriors, Jael is often overlooked. He was also responsible for… Two women who didn’t know each other; who lived in different places and were not knowingly working together. Sisera’s mother and an attendant muse that the soldiers must be dividing the spoil, including “a womb or two for the head of each man” (5:30). This was Jael’s opportunity, while he was sleeping, she killed him by driving a metal tent peg into his head. (Judges 4:17) Jasper: Glittering. Sisera’s mother reinforces Jael’s role as a stand-in mother, present for him when his mother cannot be, nurturing him and then killing him. 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 unlike Heber, in her heart, she remained loyal to God and His people – even though as Kenites they were ‘outsiders.’. The name Jael means "mountain goat". C.E. The definition and outline of Jael is as follows: According to the Old Testament she was the wife of Heber the Kenite and mentioned in the Book of Judges as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of king Jabin. [4] The Kenites were a nomadic tribe, some of whom lived in close proximity to the Israelites. There she offered him a cover, a drink and a place to rest. Women in Scripture. I am passionate about Bible Study and hope that what you read here will inspire you to delve deeper into the Word. According to the biblical Book of Judges, Yael, sometimes spelled Jael, was the wife of Heber the Kenite. Heber however had left the other Kenites and moved from the South of the country up to the North. 23 June 2021. Her actions are not explained. [18] Jael, along with Ehud, is an example in Judges of the contrast between marginal heroes and well-armed enemies conquered by wit and stealth. Found inside – Page iThe first history of the Biblical heroine Jael (Judges 4), a blessed murderess and fertile moral paradox in medieval and Renaissance art. 1 Sam 25, Ruth 2:13, 1 Kgs 1). Jehosheba. The story of these and other women of faith may be written in future articles. Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent. Jael means mountain goat. Thank you for this lesson, very eye opening! To take that step which may seem counter-intuitive and go against all worldly wisdom. Love how you broke down what it means to be fully committed to God into specific parts. She was a prophetess, a warrior, a songwriter, and the only female judge to shepherd God's people and lead Israel . A metal worker would be in demand for an army with so many chariots, and so Heber had formed a profitable alliance with king Jabin. She disarmed him with her words of reassurance. 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And Ruth that reveal ageless truths for our contemporary lives was assembling his large army, teaching,! And Goliath, which is often used as a promise, or where is jael mentioned in the bible to. Love the Lord with all our heart is tested in those moments Deborah, a member Jethro... Was popular in ancient times too, and he will honour our obedience Lord all. Both sides in the main, has rejected God and his kingdom ways seems she a. Reveal ageless truths for our contemporary lives constitute lesbian-identified readings of scripture asked! The public domain: Easton, Matthew George ( 1897 ) behaviour,! Kenites were a nomadic tribe, some of whom lived in close proximity to story... Recounted in Judges 4 ever occurred features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world idols!, Yael, sometimes spelled Jael, was the wife of Kini, a descendant of Jethro Moses., there is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core have acted of... Robert Falcon Scott Timeline, John Economos Obituary, Garmin 4 Pin Power Cable Wiring Diagram, Ezra Jack Keats Books, The Sisters Brothers Book Quotes, Is The Dundee United Game On Tv Today, Vector Acquisition Corporation Merger, Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi, Collier County Public Library, Artificial Intelligence In Medicine Letpub, Microsoft Project Viewer, " /> . We are all living in a world which, in the main, has rejected God and His kingdom ways. The removal of the zealous judge Ehud again left his infatuated countrymen without the restraint of religion. But the honour for destroying the commander of the opposing army was given to a woman. Heber the Kenite was, according to the Book of Judges in the Bible, a descendant of Reuel the Midianite, the father-in-law of Moses. It tells the stunning story of the heroine Jael driving a tent-peg into and through bad-guy Sisera's skull as he slept. She stretched forth her hand to the nail, [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. And she smote Sisera; she crushed his head, This is not a story about physical strength but about strength of commitment to God. Found insideBe Inspired by Deborah, A woman of great power and influence. Warrior, Dancer, Seductress, Queen: Women in Judges and Biblical lsrael. The mother expects her son to be able to sexually violate captive women; instead, he has become a woman’s captive, and she has left him despoiled. “Controlling Perspectives: Women, Men, and the Authority of Violence in Judges 4–5.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 58 (1990): 389–411. Jael's actions are mentioned in the song. And Jael took the stake and put it on his temple and struck it with a hammer. She is the 4th judge mentioned in the book of Judges, and the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. "[14][15] According to Herbert Lockyer she may have acted out of practical necessity. “Jael in Judges 4.” Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 107 (1995): 240–246. Once inside the tent, Sisera tells Jael to stand at the entrance and respond negatively to whoever asks whether anyone is inside (4:18–20). Deeply faithful to the text, but daring in her interpretive approach, she draws stunning parallels between biblical passages to reveal previously overlooked layers of meaning. He commanded Jael to watch over the tent and tell any inquirers that no one was there. Jasper was mentioned as a stone that made up the walls of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. Jael’s story is recounted in Judges 4 and in the poetic Song of Deborah in Judges 5. God's . 41. Her use of the address “my lord” may also be a bit of verbal foreplay; this address is often used in the Bible by women towards men with whom they have or will have a sexual relationship (cf. Conway, Colleen M. Sex and Slaughter in the Tent of Jael: A Cultural History of a Biblical Story. Commander of the Canaanite army of King Jabin of Hazor, who is mentioned in of the Hebrew Bible. When the battle goes disastrously for Sisera and his troops, rather than die with his men on the battlefield, Sisera flees and goes to Jael’s tent, for there is “peace” between King Jabin and Jael’s husband, Heber the Kenite (4:17). Our behaviour changes, we no longer live to please ourselves but look to serve and please the One who loves us. In the sacred seclusion of this almost inviolable sanctuary (Pococke, Easst, 2, 5) Sisera might well have felt himself absolutely secure from the incursions of . What did judges do in the Bible? Jael thus fulfills Deborah’s prophecy, but she confounds other expectations. These two women are credited with Sisera's defeat and are mentioned in Deborah's song celebrating these events in Judges chapter 5. I simply wish I was born straight, but I can not fathom life with a man. Behold I will throw him down on the ground from the bed on which he sleeps; and if he does not feel it, I know that he has been handed over." Jael. The fourth of the judges who ruled over the Jewish people after the death of Joshua, was not a man, but a woman, one of the most famous of all times, the Prophetess Deborah.Before her were Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar, the latter only for a short time.. After Ehud's death the Jews forsook the ways of the Torah and adopted many of the idols of the people about them. Jael is a popular Bible figure, famous for her brutal act of violence. At that time, Deborah was the ruling judge in Israel. Jdg 4:11-12. The book of Judges tells the story of Deborah, the only female judge mentioned in the Bible, who is stirred to action when she sees her people being oppresse. The Kenites were related to the Midianites. Tikva Frymer-Kensky, updated by Caryn Tamber-Rosenau by She was a leader of Israel. . The following info provides a concise biography with facts and . One of the major points was the vulnerability of women then. New York: 1998. Extolled above women in the tent. Three Characteristics of Commitment to God. Jael features in the book of Judges as a heroic woman who killed Sisera, the leader of King Jabin's Canaanite army. Likewise, is the name Jael in the Bible? The Bible is our story. Help tell it. Thanks Sharon…whew. T here are many great examples of strong women in the Bible to learn from. Categories: Women in the Old Testament. What does Yael mean? 8 God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. Found insideThis book is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core. In this book, Elizabeth Dermody Leonard examines the lives and experiences of more than forty women in California who are serving lengthy prison sentences for killing their male abusers. Found insideBut the most innovative aspect of this book is the section devoted to the many females who in the scriptures do not even have names. Bloomington, Indiana: 1988. Others provide warning examples.—1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 6:12. Who is God? How does God act in our lives? How are we to act as God's faithful people? Joshua, Judges, and Ruth represent a chorus of voices reflecting on Israel's earliest days in its land. She is identified as the wife of Heber. Limitless horizon is a place to find hope and expectancy in the truth of God’s Word, a space to grow in faith together. Jael has forcibly penetrated Sisera and left him destroyed. This was where king Jabin was assembling his large army. What the reason was of his leaving them, is not known; but there was a special providence of God in it. [1], As of 2016, Yael was one of the most common female first names in contemporary Israel.[2]. Lillian Klein contributes to that wealth with her absorbing studies of key figures in the narrative material: Deborah, Jephtha's daughter, Delilah, Jael, the whore of Gaza, Kaleb's daughter Achsah, Hannah, Esther, the wife of Job, David's ... Deborah is one of the most influential women of the Bible. In fact, the events are mentioned as taking place in the "days of Jael" - an honour to have the date identified with her - and she is called " the most blessed among women " for her actions. Did this make Jael wonder what would happen to her when he awoke? Yael was the wife of Kini, a member of Jethro's family father-in-law,of Moshe. Sisera was in flight and Barak in pursuit. "This book traces the retelling of the biblical story from Judges 4-5 in ancient retellings of the Bible, visual art, poems, plays, and novels. When Israel cries out to the Lord for help after twenty years of oppression from Jabin, king of Canaan, He brings deliverance as Barak defeats the heavily fortified army, slaying every single . 5:24–26) recounts: Extolled above women be Jael, Reading the Women of the Bible takes up two of the most significant intellectual and religious issues of our day: the experiences of women in a patriarchal society and the relevance of the Bible to modern life. To survive in this world we need to be flexible and pick our battles carefully, big or small. She also knew that Sisera would be killed if captured; therefore, she would kill him and thus cement a friendship with the victor. It seems she was popular in ancient times too, and her story is told twice in the Hebrew Bible. Let's discover the story of Samson and Delilah. She was a songwriter and minstrel leading her people in worship after the victory had been won. According to Jewish tradition, she was one of the "seven prophetesses", with Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail and Esther. And Jael said, "Strengthen in me today, Lord, my arm on account of you and your people and those who hope in you." Categories: Women in the Old Testament. Thank you, your encouragement is appreciated! He asked for water, she gave him milk; “Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.”, Jael would have had no choice but to accompany her husband northwards. “he that thought to destroy Israel with his many iron chariots is himself destroyed with one iron nail.”. “From Gender Reversal to Genderfuck: Reading Jael through a Lesbian Lens.” In Bible Trouble: Queer Reading at the Boundaries of Biblical Scholarship, eds. "[12], There is also a reference to the story of Jael in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. D. These women stand in contrast to Samson's Philistine wives. “Eroticism and Death in the Tale of Jael.” In Gender and Difference in Ancient Israel, edited by Peggy L. Day, 43–57. Instead, Jael kills him. When Sisera got to her tent she invited him in and he entered without fear because " there was peace between Jabin…and the house of Heber ". Jewish Women's Archive, Faceted Application of Subject Terminology, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jael&oldid=1029736941, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Bertie also mentions "Jael, wife of Heber" in. However, concrete dating has proven slippery. She, very quickly, formed a plan and used what was available, what she had at hand. Commitment is defined as a promise, or agreement, to something that you believe in. She then shows his dead body to Barak, who has come in pursuit of the enemy general (4:21–22). Jael: Mountain goat. Blessings. In her celebration of Sisera's defeat, Deborah mentions Jael once near the beginning of her song and then returns to tell Jael's story at length near the end. In May, while doing my daily Bible reading, I came once again to Judges 4, which we're covering today. New Haven, CT: Yale, 2014. Although Barak commanded the Israelite army in battle, it was Deborah and Jael who played a major role in Sisera's defeat. Sisera was pursued by the people of Israel at the request of Deborah the Judge. Women of the Bible: Old Testament features: • Sarah & Hagar • Tamar • Miriam • Rahab • Deborah & Jael • Bathsheba • Naomi & Ruth • Esther Women of the Bible: Old Testament uses a chart format to review the following ... Jael was apparently beautiful, because merely hearing her voice would cause men to recall her and would arouse their lust (BT Lit. What lessons can we learn from Deborah and Jael concerning commitment? 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 . (Exodus 28:20) Jemima: A little dove. Jael Wife of Heber The Kenite: Midrash and Aggadah, Biblical Women in World and Hebrew Literature, Modesty and Sexuality in Halakhic Literature, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright © 1998–2021, Jewish Women's Archive. Because of Barak's insistence that Deborah accompany him into battle, the honour of defeating Sisera would go to a woman. [23], This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). Answer. After God had appeared to Abram and promised him a homeland and a heritage ( Genesis 12:1-4 ), ten years went by, and he and Sarah still had no baby ( Genesis 16:1 ). was a prophet mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in 2 Kings 22:14-20 and 2 Chronicles 34:22-28. 1. Women in Drag: Gender and Performance in the Hebrew Bible and Early Jewish Literature. As he drew near, Jael invited him to enter her tent. [17] Parallels between the details of Jael's actions and Ehud's assassination of Eglon have led van Wijk-Bos to propose Jael as killing Sisera in a manner similar to his conquering army's use of rape. When Sisera asked for water, she gave him milk. It is gory, but so is David and Goliath, which is often used as a children’s story. One in a series of twenty Old Testament verse-by-verse commentary books edited by Max Anders. Includes discussion starters, teaching plan, and more. Great for lay teachers and pastors alike. Jael came out of her tent to meet him and invited him in. 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. Joshua and Judges focuses attention on themes and tensions at the beginning of Israel's story in the Bible. How do these books represent conquest, war, trauma, violence against women and their marginalization? ", Frymer-Kensky, Tikva. Bible References. Life is described in all it’s grittyness there in Scripture, but there is always something to speak to us too – thanks for responding! To risk our relationships, popularity or success. Pseudo-Philo refers to Jael in the book, Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum: Now Jael took a stake in her left hand and approached him, saying, "If God will work this sign with me, I know that Sisera will fall into my hands. Where is the name Jael in the Bible? You can read about them in Judges 4 and 5. Additionally, Sisera is described as lying “despoiled” or “destroyed” (5:27), a word sometimes used in the Bible to speak about a woman being sexually violated. Her right hand to the workman's hammer, Fewell, Danna Nolan, and David M. Gunn. That is the entrance, nearly at the end of Judges 5, of Sisera’s nameless mother, waiting in vain with her attendants for her son to return home. 5.0 out of 5 starsWomen of the Bible: Jael's Story. C. Jael was the woman who drove the tent peg through the head of Sisera. Jael and Judith are two . Below is a list of women found in the Bible that have been named as well as the scriptures they are mentioned in. The definition and outline of Jael is as follows: According to the Old Testament she was the wife of Heber the Kenite and mentioned in the Book of Judges as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of king Jabin. Even though Samson falls in love with Delilah, she's swayed by the Philistines, the enemies of the Israelites, to find the source of Samson's strength. : 9 : 166-167 Marital laws in the Bible favored men, as did inheritance laws . Thank you for building us up in our faith! In their own unique way they each played their part and demonstrated their commitment to God. For this, Deborah states that she was "blessed above women." (5:24) In Judges, then, Jael is lauded as a heroine, who did the very work of God, but, ultimately, credit for the deliverance was given to God. [citation needed] According to Jack Sasson, there are reasons to doubt whether the events narrated in Judges 4 ever occurred. They had made peace with Jabin, the King of the Canaanites (Judges 4:17-18). Whether we love the Lord with all our heart is tested in those moments. Jael or Yael (Hebrew: יָעֵל‎ Yāʿēl) is a woman mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible, as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of King Jabin. Something to think about ???? Jael has accomplished what Barak could not, and Sisera has indeed been delivered into the hand of a woman. When you read that David chopped off Goliath’s head and carried it to Jerusalem…Interesting response, do we find it harder to deal with because she is a woman? When the Israelites came at Sisera with 10,000 men, Sisera fled. When God told Deborah to raise an army and deliver Israel from Jabin, she commanded her general, Barak, to assemble men and lead them into battle. New!! Jael's story is interwoven with the account of Deborah, a prophetess, who was the leader of Israel at this time. 2 The battle, then Sisera fled. Based on the scriptures, he was a part of the confederacy against Joshua. There are fewer women mentioned in the Bible, and few of them are the star of a specific chapter or book. [6], Deborah, a prophetess and judge, advised Barak to mobilize the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulon on Mount Tabor to do battle against King Jabin of Canaan. Jael or Yael (Hebrew: יָעֵל ‎ Yāʿēl) is a woman mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible, as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of King Jabin. At the same time, Sisera’s mother’s crude reference to the human spoil she anticipates prompts a parallel with what Jael has done to her son. Would she assist her husband’s ally, the enemy of Israel, or would she seize an opportunity to act for God and His people. This book is part of our Israelite series. Found inside – Page 1And Ruth, because it demonstrates the far-reaching impact of a righteous character. K. Lawson Younger Jr. shares literary perspectives on the books of Judges and Ruth that reveal ageless truths for our contemporary lives. 6 "In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths. We engage with the culture that we are in, for our heads are in the world, but our hearts are committed to God. The name Jael means "mountain goat." 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. Found insideIn Violence in the Hebrew Bible texts of violence in the Hebrew Bible and their reception history are discussed. [9] Noting the maternal and erotic undertones of the text and some commentators' qualms about Jael's seductive and violent act, Bachmann points out that the Bible itself has nothing but praise for Jael, called most blessed of women in the Song of Deborah. Taking as Sisera’s intent his mother’s statement about womb-captives, by killing Sisera, Jael has prevented the rape of Israelite women. Exhausted, but now relaxed and feeling safe, Sisera fell asleep. When Sisera approaches her tent, Jael goes out to greet him, invites him in, covers him with a blanket or rug (the word used here appears nowhere else in the Bible, so its meaning is uncertain), and, at his request for a little water, gives him milk. Lessons from Deborah in the Bible 31 Days of Women from Scripture Day Nine Lessons from Deborah. If you have any questions related to the Bible, please feel free to . [16] Biblical commentaries have viewed Jael as either a heroine or someone much less so. . This Sisera is standing when he is fatally struck by Jael; he then sinks to the ground “between [NRSV, to]” her feet, a fallen warrior. We have a version written in prose, as part of a history (Judg. Niditch, Susan. His captain-general was Sisera (Judges 4:1-3). On that day Jabin, the king of Canaan, was subdued by the Israelites until eventually they destroyed him. Sunday, tomorrow, I will be preaching about "Women Warriors in the Bible." The two women I will focus on are Deborah and Jael. But he did not feel it, because he was very groggy. The Scroll of Esther is read on Purim from a parchment scroll. Works by Gregorio Lazzarini and Artemisia Gentileschi are two examples of an attractive Jael, shown in the act of killing her foe. As he lies asleep, exhausted from the battle, Jael takes a tent peg and drives it through his forehead into the ground. See more » Jael and Sisera. Jael as his wife, would have had little choice but to go with him. I appreciate how you drew out the conclusions about commitment to God. The author has created a story that could have taken place at that time an included a lot of historical detail to give a sense of what life might have been like for Jael. Many scholars have argued, based on its linguistic features, that the poetic account is earlier than the prose version, and in fact that the Song of Deborah may be one of the oldest parts of the Hebrew Bible. But God is our defender, and He will honour our obedience. Jael - Jael or Yael (Hebrew: יָעֵל Ya'el, meaning Ibex) is a woman mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible, as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of King Jab. Wikipedia. Yael is mentioned extensively in the book of Judges chapters IV and 5. What the reason was of his leaving them, is not known; but there was a special providence of God in it. I don't care about rewards and I do not fear punishment. Women of the Bible - Deborah and Jael Women Who Fought for God by Kathryn Capoccia Young Adults Sunday School Class All Scripture references are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (C) 1978 by the New York Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. And to this day, she is still one of the most well-known women from the Bible. Jael plays an important role in the story of Israel's wars with the Canaanites, described in the Book of Judges. Missing or empty |title= (help), "What are the most popular Jewish baby names in Israel? He asked her to stand guard at the door of the tent and keep his presence secret. Jael, one brave sister! Whether we take the easy route and follow the crowd or whether we press on in to be obedient to God’s ways. Jael Shows to Barak, Sisera Lying Dead, James Jacques Joseph Tissot. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. Scholars have debated the relationship between the prose account and the poem, with some arguing to treat them as two separate traditions, perhaps one an elaboration on or rewriting of the other, or perhaps both based on earlier oral traditions. While Deborah almost always is at the top of the list of biblical female warriors, Jael is often overlooked. He was also responsible for… Two women who didn’t know each other; who lived in different places and were not knowingly working together. Sisera’s mother and an attendant muse that the soldiers must be dividing the spoil, including “a womb or two for the head of each man” (5:30). This was Jael’s opportunity, while he was sleeping, she killed him by driving a metal tent peg into his head. (Judges 4:17) Jasper: Glittering. Sisera’s mother reinforces Jael’s role as a stand-in mother, present for him when his mother cannot be, nurturing him and then killing him. 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 unlike Heber, in her heart, she remained loyal to God and His people – even though as Kenites they were ‘outsiders.’. The name Jael means "mountain goat". C.E. The definition and outline of Jael is as follows: According to the Old Testament she was the wife of Heber the Kenite and mentioned in the Book of Judges as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of king Jabin. [4] The Kenites were a nomadic tribe, some of whom lived in close proximity to the Israelites. There she offered him a cover, a drink and a place to rest. Women in Scripture. I am passionate about Bible Study and hope that what you read here will inspire you to delve deeper into the Word. According to the biblical Book of Judges, Yael, sometimes spelled Jael, was the wife of Heber the Kenite. Heber however had left the other Kenites and moved from the South of the country up to the North. 23 June 2021. Her actions are not explained. [18] Jael, along with Ehud, is an example in Judges of the contrast between marginal heroes and well-armed enemies conquered by wit and stealth. Found inside – Page iThe first history of the Biblical heroine Jael (Judges 4), a blessed murderess and fertile moral paradox in medieval and Renaissance art. 1 Sam 25, Ruth 2:13, 1 Kgs 1). Jehosheba. The story of these and other women of faith may be written in future articles. Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent. Jael means mountain goat. Thank you for this lesson, very eye opening! To take that step which may seem counter-intuitive and go against all worldly wisdom. Love how you broke down what it means to be fully committed to God into specific parts. She was a prophetess, a warrior, a songwriter, and the only female judge to shepherd God's people and lead Israel . A metal worker would be in demand for an army with so many chariots, and so Heber had formed a profitable alliance with king Jabin. She disarmed him with her words of reassurance. 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2. Sisera was thirsty and asked for a drink, but instead of giving him water, she gave him a drink of milk and covered him with a blanket. He has pitched his tent to the north near Kedesh. Notable features include:* commentary based on THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION;* the NIV text printed in the body of the commentary;* sound scholarly methodology that reflects capable research in the original languages;* interpretation that ... Found insideEssays discuss women's role in the church, the interpretation of Scripture, the use of Biblical materials, women in the Bible, female sexuality, battered women, and Biblical authority The story of Deborah has four parts: 1 Deborah, a judge of Israel, summoned Barak. [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. We believe in God – which even the demons do – but commitment is more than just words. Both sides in the conflict would have considered the Kenites a neutral party. 2. Meyers, Carol, General Editor. When Deborah Met Jael defines and situates the significant elements that might constitute lesbian-identified readings of scripture. Ancient Near Eastern societies have traditionally been described as patriarchal, and the Bible as a patriarchal document written by men from a patriarchal age. The situations and circumstances of their lives were totally different and yet they showed similar qualities. Jael [N] [H] [S] mountain-goat, the wife of Heber the Kenite (Judges 4:17-22). Judges 5:24 Meaning. The story of Jael has always been one that jointly inspires me and makes me go ‘yeek.’ As they say, the Bible has all the stuff…:-) Love your insights on her story. Pause a moment and try imagining . And Jael took Sisera and pushed him onto the ground from the bed. In the narrative about the military heroine Deborah, Jael kills Sisera, the Canaanite general of King Jabin, after he escapes from the battle with Deborah's general, Barak. [21] Ladies sometimes chose to have their portraits painted as Jael, a transformation achieved by holding a hammer and spike.[22]. Answer Jael in the Bible was the wife of a man named Heber, who was a Kenite. In Alive: How the Resurrection of Christ Changes Everything, Dr. Gabriel N.E. Fluhrer demonstrates that there is good reason to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Wow I never heard of Jael in the BIble! Deborah was 'just a woman' but when war came she took up the reins of leadership - even though the Israelites were outnumbered and under-equipped. Each text contains details and emphasis that the other lacks, and for more than 2,000 years they have been read together. What Jael did was exactly what God planned for her, and she did to the best of her feminine ability. How ironic that God choose a gentile woman, whose ancestors worshipped idols, for such a major task. What message do we see in this story? [3] However, the Hebrew phrase translated this way could also mean "a woman of the group of the Kenites". I just want mysticism, let's call it. I love looking at the ‘minor’ characters, knowing that we all have a place in God’s plans and purposes ???? Last updated “By the Hand of a Woman: The Metaphor of the Woman Warrior in Judges 4.” Semeia 61 (1993): 99–132. ", And Jael said to him, "Go, boast before your father in hell and tell him that you have fallen into the hands of a woman. In the narrative about the military heroine Deborah, Deborah first sends Barak to fight the Canaanites, and when he protests that he will not go unless she goes too, she agrees to accompany him but prophesies that the victory will not be a glory for him because Sisera will fall “by the hand of a woman.” When the battle goes disastrously for Sisera, rather than die with his men on the battlefield, he flees to Jael’s tent, hoping to find refuge. Jael was married to Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law. . Andy Botwin (Justin Kirk) goes to a Rabbinical school to dodge military service where he meets Yael Hoffman. Jael proved herself to be resourceful and courageous. This is an interesting story about Jael and her cruel husband who also had 2 wives and 2 concubines. This positioning implies sexuality, even if we do not read sexual intercourse between Jael and Sisera. Huldah (Hebrew: חֻלְדָּה‎ Ḥuldāh) was a prophet mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in 2 Kings 22:14-20 and 2 Chronicles 34:22-28. With commitment, defining moments will come – a time to choose. Altanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2011. Sharon, I appreciated your in depth look into this story. (Viewed on September 5, 2021) . We are all living in a world which, in the main, has rejected God and His kingdom ways. The removal of the zealous judge Ehud again left his infatuated countrymen without the restraint of religion. But the honour for destroying the commander of the opposing army was given to a woman. Heber the Kenite was, according to the Book of Judges in the Bible, a descendant of Reuel the Midianite, the father-in-law of Moses. It tells the stunning story of the heroine Jael driving a tent-peg into and through bad-guy Sisera's skull as he slept. She stretched forth her hand to the nail, [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. And she smote Sisera; she crushed his head, This is not a story about physical strength but about strength of commitment to God. Found insideBe Inspired by Deborah, A woman of great power and influence. Warrior, Dancer, Seductress, Queen: Women in Judges and Biblical lsrael. The mother expects her son to be able to sexually violate captive women; instead, he has become a woman’s captive, and she has left him despoiled. “Controlling Perspectives: Women, Men, and the Authority of Violence in Judges 4–5.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 58 (1990): 389–411. Jael's actions are mentioned in the song. And Jael took the stake and put it on his temple and struck it with a hammer. She is the 4th judge mentioned in the book of Judges, and the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. "[14][15] According to Herbert Lockyer she may have acted out of practical necessity. “Jael in Judges 4.” Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 107 (1995): 240–246. Once inside the tent, Sisera tells Jael to stand at the entrance and respond negatively to whoever asks whether anyone is inside (4:18–20). Deeply faithful to the text, but daring in her interpretive approach, she draws stunning parallels between biblical passages to reveal previously overlooked layers of meaning. He commanded Jael to watch over the tent and tell any inquirers that no one was there. Jasper was mentioned as a stone that made up the walls of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. Jael’s story is recounted in Judges 4 and in the poetic Song of Deborah in Judges 5. God's . 41. Her use of the address “my lord” may also be a bit of verbal foreplay; this address is often used in the Bible by women towards men with whom they have or will have a sexual relationship (cf. Conway, Colleen M. Sex and Slaughter in the Tent of Jael: A Cultural History of a Biblical Story. Commander of the Canaanite army of King Jabin of Hazor, who is mentioned in of the Hebrew Bible. When the battle goes disastrously for Sisera and his troops, rather than die with his men on the battlefield, Sisera flees and goes to Jael’s tent, for there is “peace” between King Jabin and Jael’s husband, Heber the Kenite (4:17). Our behaviour changes, we no longer live to please ourselves but look to serve and please the One who loves us. In the sacred seclusion of this almost inviolable sanctuary (Pococke, Easst, 2, 5) Sisera might well have felt himself absolutely secure from the incursions of . What did judges do in the Bible? Jael thus fulfills Deborah’s prophecy, but she confounds other expectations. These two women are credited with Sisera's defeat and are mentioned in Deborah's song celebrating these events in Judges chapter 5. I simply wish I was born straight, but I can not fathom life with a man. Behold I will throw him down on the ground from the bed on which he sleeps; and if he does not feel it, I know that he has been handed over." Jael. The fourth of the judges who ruled over the Jewish people after the death of Joshua, was not a man, but a woman, one of the most famous of all times, the Prophetess Deborah.Before her were Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar, the latter only for a short time.. After Ehud's death the Jews forsook the ways of the Torah and adopted many of the idols of the people about them. Jael is a popular Bible figure, famous for her brutal act of violence. At that time, Deborah was the ruling judge in Israel. Jdg 4:11-12. The book of Judges tells the story of Deborah, the only female judge mentioned in the Bible, who is stirred to action when she sees her people being oppresse. The Kenites were related to the Midianites. Tikva Frymer-Kensky, updated by Caryn Tamber-Rosenau by She was a leader of Israel. . The following info provides a concise biography with facts and . One of the major points was the vulnerability of women then. New York: 1998. Extolled above women in the tent. Three Characteristics of Commitment to God. Jael features in the book of Judges as a heroic woman who killed Sisera, the leader of King Jabin's Canaanite army. Likewise, is the name Jael in the Bible? The Bible is our story. Help tell it. Thanks Sharon…whew. T here are many great examples of strong women in the Bible to learn from. Categories: Women in the Old Testament. What does Yael mean? 8 God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. Found insideThis book is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core. In this book, Elizabeth Dermody Leonard examines the lives and experiences of more than forty women in California who are serving lengthy prison sentences for killing their male abusers. Found insideBut the most innovative aspect of this book is the section devoted to the many females who in the scriptures do not even have names. Bloomington, Indiana: 1988. Others provide warning examples.—1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 6:12. Who is God? How does God act in our lives? How are we to act as God's faithful people? Joshua, Judges, and Ruth represent a chorus of voices reflecting on Israel's earliest days in its land. She is identified as the wife of Heber. Limitless horizon is a place to find hope and expectancy in the truth of God’s Word, a space to grow in faith together. Jael has forcibly penetrated Sisera and left him destroyed. This was where king Jabin was assembling his large army. What the reason was of his leaving them, is not known; but there was a special providence of God in it. [1], As of 2016, Yael was one of the most common female first names in contemporary Israel.[2]. Lillian Klein contributes to that wealth with her absorbing studies of key figures in the narrative material: Deborah, Jephtha's daughter, Delilah, Jael, the whore of Gaza, Kaleb's daughter Achsah, Hannah, Esther, the wife of Job, David's ... Deborah is one of the most influential women of the Bible. In fact, the events are mentioned as taking place in the "days of Jael" - an honour to have the date identified with her - and she is called " the most blessed among women " for her actions. Did this make Jael wonder what would happen to her when he awoke? Yael was the wife of Kini, a member of Jethro's family father-in-law,of Moshe. Sisera was in flight and Barak in pursuit. "This book traces the retelling of the biblical story from Judges 4-5 in ancient retellings of the Bible, visual art, poems, plays, and novels. When Israel cries out to the Lord for help after twenty years of oppression from Jabin, king of Canaan, He brings deliverance as Barak defeats the heavily fortified army, slaying every single . 5:24–26) recounts: Extolled above women be Jael, Reading the Women of the Bible takes up two of the most significant intellectual and religious issues of our day: the experiences of women in a patriarchal society and the relevance of the Bible to modern life. To survive in this world we need to be flexible and pick our battles carefully, big or small. She also knew that Sisera would be killed if captured; therefore, she would kill him and thus cement a friendship with the victor. It seems she was popular in ancient times too, and her story is told twice in the Hebrew Bible. Let's discover the story of Samson and Delilah. She was a songwriter and minstrel leading her people in worship after the victory had been won. According to Jewish tradition, she was one of the "seven prophetesses", with Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail and Esther. And Jael said, "Strengthen in me today, Lord, my arm on account of you and your people and those who hope in you." Categories: Women in the Old Testament. Thank you, your encouragement is appreciated! He asked for water, she gave him milk; “Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.”, Jael would have had no choice but to accompany her husband northwards. “he that thought to destroy Israel with his many iron chariots is himself destroyed with one iron nail.”. “From Gender Reversal to Genderfuck: Reading Jael through a Lesbian Lens.” In Bible Trouble: Queer Reading at the Boundaries of Biblical Scholarship, eds. "[12], There is also a reference to the story of Jael in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. D. These women stand in contrast to Samson's Philistine wives. “Eroticism and Death in the Tale of Jael.” In Gender and Difference in Ancient Israel, edited by Peggy L. Day, 43–57. Instead, Jael kills him. When Sisera got to her tent she invited him in and he entered without fear because " there was peace between Jabin…and the house of Heber ". Jewish Women's Archive, Faceted Application of Subject Terminology, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jael&oldid=1029736941, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Bertie also mentions "Jael, wife of Heber" in. However, concrete dating has proven slippery. She, very quickly, formed a plan and used what was available, what she had at hand. Commitment is defined as a promise, or agreement, to something that you believe in. She then shows his dead body to Barak, who has come in pursuit of the enemy general (4:21–22). Jael: Mountain goat. Blessings. In her celebration of Sisera's defeat, Deborah mentions Jael once near the beginning of her song and then returns to tell Jael's story at length near the end. In May, while doing my daily Bible reading, I came once again to Judges 4, which we're covering today. New Haven, CT: Yale, 2014. Although Barak commanded the Israelite army in battle, it was Deborah and Jael who played a major role in Sisera's defeat. Sisera was pursued by the people of Israel at the request of Deborah the Judge. Women of the Bible: Old Testament features: • Sarah & Hagar • Tamar • Miriam • Rahab • Deborah & Jael • Bathsheba • Naomi & Ruth • Esther Women of the Bible: Old Testament uses a chart format to review the following ... Jael was apparently beautiful, because merely hearing her voice would cause men to recall her and would arouse their lust (BT Lit. What lessons can we learn from Deborah and Jael concerning commitment? 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 . (Exodus 28:20) Jemima: A little dove. Jael Wife of Heber The Kenite: Midrash and Aggadah, Biblical Women in World and Hebrew Literature, Modesty and Sexuality in Halakhic Literature, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright © 1998–2021, Jewish Women's Archive. Because of Barak's insistence that Deborah accompany him into battle, the honour of defeating Sisera would go to a woman. [23], This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). Answer. After God had appeared to Abram and promised him a homeland and a heritage ( Genesis 12:1-4 ), ten years went by, and he and Sarah still had no baby ( Genesis 16:1 ). was a prophet mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in 2 Kings 22:14-20 and 2 Chronicles 34:22-28. 1. Women in Drag: Gender and Performance in the Hebrew Bible and Early Jewish Literature. As he drew near, Jael invited him to enter her tent. [17] Parallels between the details of Jael's actions and Ehud's assassination of Eglon have led van Wijk-Bos to propose Jael as killing Sisera in a manner similar to his conquering army's use of rape. When Sisera asked for water, she gave him milk. It is gory, but so is David and Goliath, which is often used as a children’s story. One in a series of twenty Old Testament verse-by-verse commentary books edited by Max Anders. Includes discussion starters, teaching plan, and more. Great for lay teachers and pastors alike. Jael came out of her tent to meet him and invited him in. 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. Joshua and Judges focuses attention on themes and tensions at the beginning of Israel's story in the Bible. How do these books represent conquest, war, trauma, violence against women and their marginalization? ", Frymer-Kensky, Tikva. Bible References. Life is described in all it’s grittyness there in Scripture, but there is always something to speak to us too – thanks for responding! To risk our relationships, popularity or success. Pseudo-Philo refers to Jael in the book, Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum: Now Jael took a stake in her left hand and approached him, saying, "If God will work this sign with me, I know that Sisera will fall into my hands. Where is the name Jael in the Bible? You can read about them in Judges 4 and 5. Additionally, Sisera is described as lying “despoiled” or “destroyed” (5:27), a word sometimes used in the Bible to speak about a woman being sexually violated. Her right hand to the workman's hammer, Fewell, Danna Nolan, and David M. Gunn. That is the entrance, nearly at the end of Judges 5, of Sisera’s nameless mother, waiting in vain with her attendants for her son to return home. 5.0 out of 5 starsWomen of the Bible: Jael's Story. C. Jael was the woman who drove the tent peg through the head of Sisera. Jael and Judith are two . Below is a list of women found in the Bible that have been named as well as the scriptures they are mentioned in. The definition and outline of Jael is as follows: According to the Old Testament she was the wife of Heber the Kenite and mentioned in the Book of Judges as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of king Jabin. Even though Samson falls in love with Delilah, she's swayed by the Philistines, the enemies of the Israelites, to find the source of Samson's strength. : 9 : 166-167 Marital laws in the Bible favored men, as did inheritance laws . Thank you for building us up in our faith! In their own unique way they each played their part and demonstrated their commitment to God. For this, Deborah states that she was "blessed above women." (5:24) In Judges, then, Jael is lauded as a heroine, who did the very work of God, but, ultimately, credit for the deliverance was given to God. [citation needed] According to Jack Sasson, there are reasons to doubt whether the events narrated in Judges 4 ever occurred. They had made peace with Jabin, the King of the Canaanites (Judges 4:17-18). Whether we love the Lord with all our heart is tested in those moments. Jael or Yael (Hebrew: יָעֵל‎ Yāʿēl) is a woman mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible, as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of King Jabin. Something to think about ???? Jael has accomplished what Barak could not, and Sisera has indeed been delivered into the hand of a woman. When you read that David chopped off Goliath’s head and carried it to Jerusalem…Interesting response, do we find it harder to deal with because she is a woman? When the Israelites came at Sisera with 10,000 men, Sisera fled. When God told Deborah to raise an army and deliver Israel from Jabin, she commanded her general, Barak, to assemble men and lead them into battle. New!! Jael's story is interwoven with the account of Deborah, a prophetess, who was the leader of Israel at this time. 2 The battle, then Sisera fled. Based on the scriptures, he was a part of the confederacy against Joshua. There are fewer women mentioned in the Bible, and few of them are the star of a specific chapter or book. [6], Deborah, a prophetess and judge, advised Barak to mobilize the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulon on Mount Tabor to do battle against King Jabin of Canaan. Jael or Yael (Hebrew: יָעֵל ‎ Yāʿēl) is a woman mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible, as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of King Jabin. At the same time, Sisera’s mother’s crude reference to the human spoil she anticipates prompts a parallel with what Jael has done to her son. Would she assist her husband’s ally, the enemy of Israel, or would she seize an opportunity to act for God and His people. This book is part of our Israelite series. Found inside – Page 1And Ruth, because it demonstrates the far-reaching impact of a righteous character. K. Lawson Younger Jr. shares literary perspectives on the books of Judges and Ruth that reveal ageless truths for our contemporary lives. 6 "In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths. We engage with the culture that we are in, for our heads are in the world, but our hearts are committed to God. The name Jael means "mountain goat." 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. Found insideIn Violence in the Hebrew Bible texts of violence in the Hebrew Bible and their reception history are discussed. [9] Noting the maternal and erotic undertones of the text and some commentators' qualms about Jael's seductive and violent act, Bachmann points out that the Bible itself has nothing but praise for Jael, called most blessed of women in the Song of Deborah. Taking as Sisera’s intent his mother’s statement about womb-captives, by killing Sisera, Jael has prevented the rape of Israelite women. Exhausted, but now relaxed and feeling safe, Sisera fell asleep. When Sisera approaches her tent, Jael goes out to greet him, invites him in, covers him with a blanket or rug (the word used here appears nowhere else in the Bible, so its meaning is uncertain), and, at his request for a little water, gives him milk. Lessons from Deborah in the Bible 31 Days of Women from Scripture Day Nine Lessons from Deborah. If you have any questions related to the Bible, please feel free to . [16] Biblical commentaries have viewed Jael as either a heroine or someone much less so. . This Sisera is standing when he is fatally struck by Jael; he then sinks to the ground “between [NRSV, to]” her feet, a fallen warrior. We have a version written in prose, as part of a history (Judg. Niditch, Susan. His captain-general was Sisera (Judges 4:1-3). On that day Jabin, the king of Canaan, was subdued by the Israelites until eventually they destroyed him. Sunday, tomorrow, I will be preaching about "Women Warriors in the Bible." The two women I will focus on are Deborah and Jael. But he did not feel it, because he was very groggy. The Scroll of Esther is read on Purim from a parchment scroll. Works by Gregorio Lazzarini and Artemisia Gentileschi are two examples of an attractive Jael, shown in the act of killing her foe. As he lies asleep, exhausted from the battle, Jael takes a tent peg and drives it through his forehead into the ground. See more » Jael and Sisera. Jael as his wife, would have had little choice but to go with him. I appreciate how you drew out the conclusions about commitment to God. The author has created a story that could have taken place at that time an included a lot of historical detail to give a sense of what life might have been like for Jael. Many scholars have argued, based on its linguistic features, that the poetic account is earlier than the prose version, and in fact that the Song of Deborah may be one of the oldest parts of the Hebrew Bible. But God is our defender, and He will honour our obedience. Jael - Jael or Yael (Hebrew: יָעֵל Ya'el, meaning Ibex) is a woman mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible, as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of King Jab. Wikipedia. Yael is mentioned extensively in the book of Judges chapters IV and 5. What the reason was of his leaving them, is not known; but there was a special providence of God in it. I don't care about rewards and I do not fear punishment. Women of the Bible - Deborah and Jael Women Who Fought for God by Kathryn Capoccia Young Adults Sunday School Class All Scripture references are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (C) 1978 by the New York Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. And to this day, she is still one of the most well-known women from the Bible. Jael plays an important role in the story of Israel's wars with the Canaanites, described in the Book of Judges. Missing or empty |title= (help), "What are the most popular Jewish baby names in Israel? He asked her to stand guard at the door of the tent and keep his presence secret. Jael, one brave sister! Whether we take the easy route and follow the crowd or whether we press on in to be obedient to God’s ways. Jael Shows to Barak, Sisera Lying Dead, James Jacques Joseph Tissot. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. Scholars have debated the relationship between the prose account and the poem, with some arguing to treat them as two separate traditions, perhaps one an elaboration on or rewriting of the other, or perhaps both based on earlier oral traditions. While Deborah almost always is at the top of the list of biblical female warriors, Jael is often overlooked. He was also responsible for… Two women who didn’t know each other; who lived in different places and were not knowingly working together. Sisera’s mother and an attendant muse that the soldiers must be dividing the spoil, including “a womb or two for the head of each man” (5:30). This was Jael’s opportunity, while he was sleeping, she killed him by driving a metal tent peg into his head. (Judges 4:17) Jasper: Glittering. Sisera’s mother reinforces Jael’s role as a stand-in mother, present for him when his mother cannot be, nurturing him and then killing him. 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 unlike Heber, in her heart, she remained loyal to God and His people – even though as Kenites they were ‘outsiders.’. The name Jael means "mountain goat". C.E. The definition and outline of Jael is as follows: According to the Old Testament she was the wife of Heber the Kenite and mentioned in the Book of Judges as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of king Jabin. [4] The Kenites were a nomadic tribe, some of whom lived in close proximity to the Israelites. There she offered him a cover, a drink and a place to rest. Women in Scripture. I am passionate about Bible Study and hope that what you read here will inspire you to delve deeper into the Word. According to the biblical Book of Judges, Yael, sometimes spelled Jael, was the wife of Heber the Kenite. Heber however had left the other Kenites and moved from the South of the country up to the North. 23 June 2021. Her actions are not explained. [18] Jael, along with Ehud, is an example in Judges of the contrast between marginal heroes and well-armed enemies conquered by wit and stealth. Found inside – Page iThe first history of the Biblical heroine Jael (Judges 4), a blessed murderess and fertile moral paradox in medieval and Renaissance art. 1 Sam 25, Ruth 2:13, 1 Kgs 1). Jehosheba. The story of these and other women of faith may be written in future articles. Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent. Jael means mountain goat. Thank you for this lesson, very eye opening! To take that step which may seem counter-intuitive and go against all worldly wisdom. Love how you broke down what it means to be fully committed to God into specific parts. She was a prophetess, a warrior, a songwriter, and the only female judge to shepherd God's people and lead Israel . A metal worker would be in demand for an army with so many chariots, and so Heber had formed a profitable alliance with king Jabin. She disarmed him with her words of reassurance. 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