Jael
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Jael (Hebrew Ya'el), is mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible, as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from Jabin. She was also the wife of Heber the Kenite.
God told Deborah (a prophetess and leader) that he would deliver Israel from Jabin. Deborah called Barak to make up an army to lead into battle against Jabin on the plain of Esdraelon. Jabin's army was captained by Sisera (Judg. 4:2), who fled the battle after all was lost.
Jael received the fleeing Sisera at the settlement of Heber on the plain of Zaanaim. Jael welcomed him into her tent with apparent hospitality. She 'gave him butter' (i.e. 'lebben', or curdled milk) 'in a lordly dish'. Having drunk the refreshing beverage, he lay down and soon sank into the sleep of the weary. While he lay asleep Jael crept stealthily up to him, holding a tent peg and a mallet. She drove it through his temples with such force that it entered into the ground below. And 'at her feet he bowed, he fell; where he bowed, there he fell down dead'.
As a result of the murder of Sisera, God gave the victory to Israel. The praise given to 'blessed' Jael in the Bible, is given for her action.
This is the part of Deborah's song (Judg. 5:23-27) that refers to the death of Sisera:
- "Extolled above women be Jael,
- The wife of Heber the Kenite,
- Extolled above women in the tent.
- He asked for water, she gave him milk;
- She brought him cream in a lordly dish.
- She stretched forth her hand to the nail,
- Her right hand to the workman's hammer,
- And she smote Sisera; she crushed his head,
- She crashed through and transfixed his temples.
- At her feet he curled himself, he fell, he lay still;
- At her feet he curled himself, he fell;
- And where he curled himself, there he fell dead."