Keraia
Judges 4

Judges 4:22

Jael Kills Sisera · Judges 4:17–24
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Translations

Modern
When Barak arrived in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to greet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man you are seeking.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera dead, with a tent peg through his temple.
Traditional
And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
Literal
And behold, Barak pursued Sisera, and Jael came out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you seek.” And he went with her, and there Sisera lay dead, with the peg in his temple.
Latin
Et ecce Barac sequens Sisaram veniebat: egressaque Jahel in occursum ejus, dixit ei: Veni, et ostendam tibi virum quem quæris. Qui cum intrasset ad eam, vidit Sisaram jacentem mortuum, et clavum infixum in tempore ejus.

Original

Hebrew
English
When Barak arrived in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to greet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man you are seeking.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera dead, with a tent peg through his temple.

Notes

Judges 4:21–22

Jael achieved what she intended from the start. A more detailed description of the event is in Judges 5:26–27.

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

People

Barak: An Israelite commander who defeated Canaanite forces with Deborah Jael: Wife of Heber; killed Sisera, the Canaanite commander Sisera: Canaanite commander defeated by Deborah and Barak

Glossary

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

Topics

Canaanites: Defeated by the Israelites Courage: Personal Bravery: Jael, in Killing Sisera Head: Parts of Mentioned: The Temples Jael: Wife of Heber, and the One Who Killed Sisera The Kenites: Sisera Slain by Jael One of