Judges 4:17
Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
After Barak's victory delivered Israel from twenty years of grievous oppression by Jabin king of Canaan, when the Kishon swept away the chariots on the plain of Esdraelon and the stars fought against Sisera, the defeated captain left his chariot and fled away on foot like a common soldier. He made for the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Jethro Moses' father-in-law, because peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber placed her household outside the conflict and promised protection, and Heber himself was absent. Jael courteously invited him in, gave him milk and covering for repose until the weary general slept, then, learning he was Sisera the enemy of God and His people, killed him so that Barak found him dead and she gained the honor of defeating Israel's enemy as Deborah had foretold. The battle in the days of Deborah and Barak is an object lesson for Armageddon to be studied in connection with the sixth and seventh plagues, warning that those who take up arms against God's forces face a fatal end by Jael's hand. Deborah's helping of Barak and courageous Jael's deed with the enemy captain delivered into her hands show that women may serve publicly for God without usurping authority over men, and her fearlessness is needed today not on the field of worldly strife but in the home where mothers must strike the death-blow to sin in the greatest battle against principalities and spiritual wickedness.
Flight to Jael's Tent
The verse stands in the time between the death of Joshua and the raising up of Samuel, the composite record of Judges 3 to 17 of repeated backsliding from God followed by suffering, oppression, captivity and servitude, then returning to God followed by forgiveness and deliverance. It belongs to Barak's victory over the Canaanites in delivering Israel from Jabin king of Canaan after twenty years of grievous oppression, with Jael's part in that deliverance. That victory was one of the two great victories associated with the Megiddo battlefield, the victory of Barak and Deborah by which Israel first gained possession of the plain of Esdraelon. In that defeat the Kishon River swept away the Canaanite chariots and forces, and the stars fought against Sisera.
When Sisera saw his army defeated and facing capture he left his chariot and his command and fled away on foot like a common soldier. He fled to the tent of Jael because there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. That peace placed Jael's household outside the conflict between Jabin and Israel, so that Heber seemed a friend and a possible source of protection in whom Sisera could trust.
Heber was a Kenite, a descendant of Jethro, also called Hobab, Moses' father-in-law, and Jael was his wife. Heber himself was absent when Sisera arrived. In his absence Jael invited Sisera to shelter, courteously offering a refreshing draught of milk and opportunity for repose with a covering until the weary general fell asleep. At first she resolved to conceal him while ignorant of his character, but on learning he was Sisera the enemy of God and His people she changed her purpose and killed him as he slept. So Barak found him dead, and Jael gained the honor of defeating Israel's enemy as Deborah had foretold.
Prophecy, Warning, and Example
The battle in the days of Deborah and Barak is an object lesson for Armageddon and is important to study in connection with the sixth and seventh plagues. Sisera fled to Jael's tent after taking up arms against God's forces, warning that those who fight against God face a fatal end, as Sisera did by Jael's hand.
The verse belongs to the composite record of Judges 3 to 17 of backsliding from God followed by suffering, oppression, captivity and servitude, then returning to God followed by forgiveness and deliverance. It shows the perversity and unbelief of Israel against the long-suffering and goodness of God. It took place amid awful moral surroundings and the demoralizing influences of the tribes Israel permitted to remain in the land of promise.
Deborah the prophetess helping Barak shows that women may serve publicly for God without usurping authority over men. Courageous Jael with the enemy captain delivered into her hands did a good work, showing that God honors woman in all ages. She is placed as a beacon-light in every avenue of life.
Jael's fearlessness and courage when the enemy captain was delivered into her hands and she struck the death-blow are not needed today on the field of worldly strife but in the home. It is in the home that the greatest battle of the universe against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness is waged. Mothers need Jael's fearlessness and courage to strike the death-blow to sin in the home.