Keraia
Judges 4

Judges 4:20

Jael Kills Sisera · Judges 4:17–24
Read Judges 4

Translations

Modern
“Stand at the entrance to the tent,” he said, “and if anyone comes and asks you, ‘Is there a man here?’ say, ‘No.’”
Traditional
Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.
Literal
And he said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ You shall say, ‘No.’”
Latin
Dixitque Sisara ad eam: Sta ante ostium tabernaculi: et cum venerit aliquis interrogans te, et dicens: Numquid hic est aliquis? respondebis: Nullus est.

Original

Hebrew
English
“Stand at the entrance to the tent,” he said, “and if anyone comes and asks you, ‘Is there a man here?’ say, ‘No.’”

Notes

Judges 4:17–20

Sisera believed he was among friends (see Judges 4:11). A woman whose husband was away would typically invite a man into her tent only for intimate reasons. However, Sisera saw this invitation as a chance for safety. Jael did not disturb his trust as she hid and refreshed him.

Judges 4:1–5:31

The story of Deborah and Barak, found in both prose (Judges 4) and poetry (Judges 5), describes a major military operation against a significant Canaanite enemy after the initial conquest. Another king named Jabin, who also ruled in Hazor, was defeated earlier by Joshua along with a large northern alliance, and Hazor was burned (see Joshua 11:1–15). Although Joshua 11 and Judges 4–5 are often compared, they have too many differences to be considered accounts of the same battle. Instead, Jabin is likely a dynastic name; it appears in the Mari texts for an even earlier king of Hazor, around 1800 BC.

Theme notes and profiles

Deborah

Events

Glossary

Armageddon Asher (Tribe) Barak Deborah Education Family Life and Relations Hazor Heber Jabin Jael Judges, Book of Kishon Mount Tabor Sisera Song of Deborah Tribe of Naphtali Woman Zaanannim

Topics

Canaanites: Defeated by the Israelites Courage: Personal Bravery: Jael, in Killing Sisera Falsehood: Sisera, Who Instructed Jael to Mislead his Pursuers Hypocrisy: Jael Jael: Wife of Heber, and the One Who Killed Sisera Kenites: Jael, One of The, Betrays and Kills Sisera Tents: Custom of Sitting and Standing at the Door of Treachery of Jael