The name "Jael" means "wild or mountain goat" (not a name I'd like to have!!!) or "gazelle" (well . . . that's a little better - no?) and it was fitting of a Bedouin's wife. We had the pleasure of seeing many current day Bedouin camps during our Holy Land journey. We were told that they were squatters. They appeared to set up their tents close to the roadways. We were told that they (somehow) stole electricity - I guess that came in handy for their satellite dishes used for their televisions. In ancient days, Bedouins were a nomadic tribe of desert dwellers - today they still live in non-permanent structures. The government has been trying to figure out a way to charge them taxes, but alas, not to be (yet!).
Back to Jael - she was the wife of Heber, the Kenite. In those days the woman was responsible for everything to do with the tent, therefore she became an expert in making, pitching and striking (taking down / disassembling) tents. NOW IT MAKES SENSE and why Jael was able to . . . with a tent pin in one hand and a maul in the other . . . . drive the pin through the skull of the General Sisera as he slept. THIS was not a deed of divine leading, although the victory over Sisera was (Judges 5:10)
What else can we learn about Jael's own time??? Hospitality was one of the most strictly adhered to, of all desert obligations, and was a matter of honor. By betraying Sisera, Jael broke this code (of hospitality). So Sisera died - actually he was murdered - he escaped the battle he was supposed to be leading and fell into the hands of a woman (4:9) She lured him into her tent, covered him up, gave him milk, assured him she would shield him from anyone searching for him and watched him fall asleep. THEN she drove a tent nail through his head. She didn't do this in self-defense - she killed him as an assassin kills. The General is killed by a woman.
Didn't Deborah tell Barak "the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman" ??? Isn't that what happened? Wasn't he an enemy of the Israelites??? an enemy of God??? Jael erred because she did not allow God to decide the means of punishment. She acted on her own. Some called her a heroine . . . others say she acted as judge, jury and executioner.
Please read:
- Judges 4 in your Bible
- Chapter 2 in your Book "Really Bad Girls of the Bible" and referenced Scripture
- Questions for Chapter 2 in the Workbook and be prepared to discuss next week
- Prayer Requests on the blog
- Weekly prayer on the blog
- Reminder to bring food pantry items