“Most Blessed of Women”

SISERA fled the plain of Jezreel, where he had left his men to die without their leader. It was surely hard for him to believe that his mighty army, with its 900 fearsome chariots, had been defeated by a poorly armed force of Israelite foot soldiers. Now Sisera thought only of where he could hide. He made his way toward the tent of Heber the Kenite.

In general, the Kenites were allies of Israel. Their connection went all the way back to the days of Moses, whose wife came from a Kenite family. Now, those nomadic people lived in Israel. But Heber differed from other Kenites. Instead of being allied with Israel, he was allied with Canaanite King Jabin. So Sisera, as Jabin’s general, assumed that he could take refuge in the tents of Heber. It apparently did not occur to Sisera that Heber’s wife, Jael, might have a mind of her own.

Jael was at the encampment, while her husband was away. When she saw Sisera approaching, she had to think fast. Without question, she knew who Sisera was and how dangerous he was. She might not have known what Jehovah’s prophetess Deborah had said about Sisera​—that he would die, not at the hands of a man, but at the hands of a woman. Still, it seems possible that Jael did know what Jehovah wanted her to do. Why might we think that?

Later, Deborah composed an inspired song about Barak’s victory over Sisera. It said: “Most blessed of women is Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite; she is most blessed of women living in tents.” So Jael was not some scheming, vicious woman, as some critics have described her. Rather, she was a brave fighter in the wars of Jehovah. Like Rahab before her, she chose to side with Jehovah and against his enemies. She knew that Sisera was a wicked foe of Jehovah and that it was up to her to do what Jehovah wanted done. The question was, How?

Of course, Jael knew well that hand-to-hand combat was not an option. Sisera was a seasoned warrior and surely a strong man. So she invited him into her tent for refreshment and rest. She covered him with a blanket. When he asked her for water, she gave him milk. He ordered her to stand guard in front of the tent and to lie to anyone who might ask whether there was a man inside. Then he fell fast asleep.

Jael knew that her moment had arrived. She picked up tools that she likely used often​—a heavy mallet and a tent pin, both probably wooden. Cautiously, she approached the sleeping warrior. Bending down near his head, she prepared to strike. One slip, one false move at this moment, would surely have meant a horrible death for Jael. But Jael did not slip. In a moment, the deed was done and Sisera lay dead at her feet​—a tent pin through his temples!

In time, Judge Barak came in pursuit of Sisera. Jael went out to meet him. She said, “Come and I will show you the man you are looking for.” Barak entered the tent, and he saw that Deborah’s prophetic words had been fulfilled: “It will be into the hand of a woman that Jehovah will give Sisera.”

In their victory song, Barak and Deborah gratefully praised Jael. Thereafter, Jael disappears from the Bible record. Still, down to this day, over 32 centuries later, her story lives on. Today, God’s servants do not strike literal blows with weapons or tools. But we are at war, a spiritual war. And today more than ever, we need the courage of Jael.

Read the Bible account:

• Judges 4:9, 11, 17-22; 5:24-31

For discussion:

In what ways did Jael show courage?

Reflect on the Lessons

• As Jael needed courage, when might a sister with an unbelieving husband need courage?

  Your answer

• Jael was not a prophetess like Deborah, nor was she a soldier like Barak. Still, she did what she could. What do we learn from her about how to view any limitations we might have? B

  Your answer

  

• In what other ways might you imitate Jael’s courage?

  Your answer

Meditate on the Bigger Picture

• What does this account teach me about Jehovah?

  Your answer

• How does the account tie in with Jehovah’s purposes?

  Your answer

• What would I like to ask Jael in the resurrection?

  Your answer

Learn More

In this dramatization, see how the example of Jael motivates a young sister to give a witness.

Imitate, Not the Cowards, But the Courageous!​—Not the Inhabitants of Meroz, But Jael (1:40)

Jael is just one of many women whose lives can teach us valuable lessons. Read about some of them.

“Women in the Bible​—What Can We Learn From Them?” (ijwbq article 161)