Jael: a decisive and courageous woman who becomes a hero

Jael is an interesting woman in the Bible. Her story only takes place in a few short verses but her story has lasting effects. Little is known about her. She is never mentioned again in the Bible. She is a decisive and courageous woman who seized the opportunity to kill an enemy of God’s people. According to the Jewish tradition, she was so beautiful that her voice would arouse lust in men (Kadari). In Judges 5:24, Deborah calls her the “most blessed of women in tents.” Women in tents refers to Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah, the Four Matriarchs (Kadari). Why would Jael’s actions be more blessed than the Four Matriarchs? What is the current take on her actions? What does her story tell us about God? What would we do if we were in Jael’s place? 

Jael was the wife of Heber from the Kenites. The Kenites were a nomadic tribe who survived by staying clear of local disputes. However, they didn’t follow this particular rule. Heber was on friendly terms with Jabin, king of Hazar (Judges 4:17) so when Sisera saw Jael at her tent, he must have thought he would be safe from discovery. Jael welcomes him into the tent, he asks for water, she gives him a skin of milk. As soon as he falls asleep, she takes a tent peg and a hammer and quickly thrusts the peg through his temple and into the ground. Sisera was dead at the hands of a woman, just as Deborah had predicted in Judges 4:9. Later, Jael will show Barak Sisera, dead, in her tent (Judges 4: 22). While she is praised by Deborah and Barak in their song in Judges 5, Jael is most blessed of women in tents. One explanation for this statement is that without Jael, the Israelities may have faced possible extinction and when she killed Sisera, she ensured “the continued existence of the people of Israel” (Kadari). 

I use the devotional “Women of the Bible” by Ann Spangler and Jean E. Syswerda as a guide for these studies. I have used it for many years, however, this study on Jael caught my attention, a detail I didn’t notice before. They asked if Jael was bloodthirsty because she killed Sisera in such a violent manner? This question didn’t sit well with me. Just because she’s a woman, she’s supposed to be dainty and a “damsel in distress” to wait for a man to rescue her? Why couldn’t she do the rescuing herself? My impression is that the authors’ feelings because she chose to kill a man rather than expose his whereabouts makes her brutal. However, my thoughts on Jael’s actions is that she thought it would be safer to kill him first rather than expose his whereabouts. While Deborah’s words to Barak were that God would deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman (Judges 4:9) could have meant different scenarios, it could have been Jael’s motives that made the differences. Did she kill Sisera out of loyalty for God and Israel? Did she fear for herself when he awoke? Whatever her motives, her story considers her actions to be the will of God (Frymer-Kensky). 

Whether you agree with Jael’s actions or not, her story is another example of God’s promise to never forget his people. When hope seems dim and prospects of victory are impossible, God is at work, bringing his plan to fruition in ways we could never imagine. In the times of the judges, the people’s faith wavered between two extremes. When times were good, they forgot God and his promises. When times were bad, they ran to him for deliverance. Nehemiah 9:28 shows this wavering behavior and God’s willingness to help them time after time. The story of the wavering people still happens today. God is, as he was in the days of the judges, always there, always willing to help us when we call and always ready to forgive. We never know if we could be God’s instrument to bring deliverance to another. We never know when we are someone’s answer to prayer. We also never know when we have been given help sent by God in the form of another. Remember Hebrews 13:1-2, “Continue in brotherly love. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

In conclusion, I love this statement: “When the outside world of national battles comes into her domestic space, Jael takes up a domestic “weapon of opportunity” and becomes a heroine” (Frymer-Kensky). I think this is the best way to view Jael and her actions. If anyone came into our home, we would not do anything we would to defend it? Yes, Jael welcomed him in and Sisera assumed he was safe as her husband was on friendly terms with the king. But that doesn't mean that Jael was. She may have known Sisera’s cruelty and did what she could to protect herself as well as others who would face his brutality. A brutal man met a brutal end at the hands of a woman. Despite her means, Jael is a hero and an example to be decisive and courageous. 

References

Frymer-Kensky, Tikva (no date). Jael: Bible. Jewish Women’s Archives. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/jael-bible. Retrieved February 21, 2021. 

Kadari, Tamar (no date). Jael Wife of Heber The Kenite: Midrash and Aggadah. Jewish Women's Archives. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/jael-wife-of-heber-kenite-midrash-and-aggadah. Retrieved February 21, 2021. 

Deborah: an example of Godly leadership

Two hundred years after the fall of Jericho and after the death of Joshua, the Israelites began to lose its hold on the land. Canaanite rulers held the Israelites oppressed for twenty years. Sisera was the chief warrior among the Canaanites and his force of 900 iron plated chariots terrified the people and kept them in line for many years. Sisera was so assured that no one could challenge him and he felt even more smugly secure as Israel had a new leader: a woman. Deborah was an extraordinary woman. A wife, a mother and a leader of the Israelites. Judges in Israel were unelected and uninherited. They were chosen by God to serve as military leaders when the people needed to be rescued from their enemies and establish justice. Deborah was the only woman to serve as judge. 

Deborah was a prophetess who held court under a palm tree. She refused to lose heart as Israel became more and more divided and dispirited. The people had sunk deeper into idolatry and forgot God’s promises and the faith of their ancestors. Her vision of the world was not shaped by the political situation but her relationship with God. Even though it was uncommon for a woman to be a leader in the ancient world, Deborah was the leader Israel needed. She heard God and believed in Him. By her example, courage began to arise in the people which enabled them to throw off their oppressors. Sisera thought he was invincible but he failed to take into account Deborah’s strong faith. Deborah summoned Barak, a Jew from the North, and told him that God would deliver Sisera’s army into his hands. But Barak was terrified and only agreed to go if Deborah also went into battle. She tells him the honor of defeating Sisera would not be his but hers. When Sisera heard of the plan to defeat his army, he felt so confident that he went ahead to the Kishon River. Unfortunately, his chariots became stuck and became easy targets for Barak’s troops. After the battle, there would be peace in Israel for 40 years (Judges 5:31). 

Deborah’s story speaks volumes for us today. Deborah is an example of strong leadership. She was not power hungry. She only wanted to serve God and when praise came her way, she gave credit to God. She is a person who demonstrated what can be done when God is in control. First, we need to be available to God and others. Deborah was known as a mediator, advisor and counselor (Judges 4:5). She led Israel peacefully for 40 years. Second, how to be a wise leader. Wise leaders are rare. Leaders who know how to work with and through others. They are good mediators, advisors, planners and delegators. When God revealed his plans for Sisera’s defeat, Deborah didn’t try to do it all herself. She called Barak to help. And when Barak’s faith was shaken at the prospect of facing Sisera, he asked Deborah to be at his side (Judges 4:8). She was the type of person who understood the spiritual needs of the people she led. While she believed that God would lead them to victory, her presence helped build the confidence of the troops. She understood the needs of the people and not just worried about success. She didn’t downplay Barak’s role in the victory, despite his reluctance to go into battle without her (Judges 5:12). 

Imagery is important in Deborah’s story. The palm trees are often heralds of peace and hope. Deborah meeting with people under the palm tree. The palm branch is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace and eternal life. Jesus’s entrance into Jerusalem before his crucifixion and death (Matthew 21:8, Mark 11:8, John 12:13) is another example of the palm inclusion bringing a deeper meaning. Deborah’s name means “bee” (Devorah or D’vorah in Hebrew). The imagery of the bee is interesting as the Midrash, a collection of teachings on the Torah, explain that the Hebrew people were like bees (Nelson, 2019). First, bees follow their leader in a swarm. The Jewish people would follow prophets to teach them. Judges 4:5 says Deborah held court where the Israelites came to her to settle their disputes. Second, the bee demonstrates the consequences of not following God’s commands, as a bee sting is quite painful. But as the bee’s honey is sweet, those who follow His commands will be blessed with a sweet life. Third, bees are a lowly insect and serve as a reminder to be humble. Colossians 3:12 says “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” 

In conclusion, judges in Israel were unelected and uninherited, chosen by God to serve as military leaders when the people needed to be rescued from their enemies and establish justice. Deborah was a humble leader who used wisdom and God’s guidance to usher in forty years of peace. At a time when the Israelites desperately needed a strong leader, God gave them Deborah. With her faith, she was able to be an example of strength and confidence in God. At a time when women leaders were uncommon, Deborah was an example to all who sought her. Through Deborah’s example, we can be wide leaders who seek God’s guidance. We can be leaders in our homes, our families, our workplaces, and our schools. Men, women, boys, girls, young and old, we all can be wise leaders for God. 

References

Nelson, Susan J. (July 10, 2019). Who Was Deborah in the Bible? Christianity.com. www.https://www.christianity.com/wiki/people/who-was-deborah-in-the-bible.html. Retrieved January 21, 2021. 

The Reluctant General: story of faith against all odds

The Reluctant General: A story about Ancient Israel by Herb Sennett is the story of Barak and Deborah from Judges 4. It is the story of the Israelites defeat of King Jabin of Canaan and the evil general Sisera. In the Bible, judges were rulers or military leaders who led the people into battle as well as someone who presided over legal matters.

The story opens with a quiet village waking up to a new day when soldiers come on horseback and in chariots, killing men and woman, kidnapping children, and laying the village to waste. Word soon reaches Barak, son of Abinoam, a farmer and Deborah, a judge and prophetess. After much discussion and doubt, Barak and Deborah gather men for an army and forge a plan to fight back against the army who was ravaging their villages and killing their people. Will they succeed against a political power of the ancient world?

I enjoyed this fictionalized story of the Biblical events. I enjoyed seeing the human side of these heroes. I enjoyed seeing Barak’s doubt and renewal of faith as to what God can accomplished against insurmountable odds. Anyone who is familiar with the story of Barak and Deborah knows the outcome and the famous battle at Mt. Tabor. I still enjoyed the foreshadowing of future events. For instance, when Deborah declares “a woman will deliver Israel from the clutches of Sisera,” I was excited because I knew who this woman was and eagerly waited for her introduction into the story and how she become in involved in this fight. I highly recommend this book for its great storytelling and exciting action.

The Reluctant General is available on Amazon

for the Kindle for $4.99 and in paperback for $17.96