What would inspire a woman to drive a two-foot tent peg into a sleeping man's brain?
I've been doing a Bible study exploring women in the Bible, and one of the lessons mentioned a woman named "Jael." Jael has always piqued my curiosity because of the brutality of her behavior. This is a gal who stabbed a bad guy in the brain with a tent peg. That murder gave Israel peace for 40 years.
What would make her resort to such violent behavior?
I am thrilled to delve into this question with you. In this blog, Part One, I'll be setting the stage. Part Two will focus on Jael. However, make sure to keep reading this blog because both blogs are crucial!!!
To provide some context, during Jael's era, Israel was governed by prophets, and at the time of the forthcoming battle, Deborah served as a prophet for Israel. Individuals sought her guidance for legal counsel, resolving conflicts, and divine wisdom.
God grew frustrated with the Israelites because they once more disobeyed Him (the lesson from the 40 years in the desert hadn't sunk in), and He permitted a king named Jabin to control and intimidate them. King Jabin was the ruler of Canaan and resided in a city called Hazor, located in the northern part of Israel (see Bible Archeology Report).
This interactive map shows the events of the battle. I would encourage you to explore the animated version HERE: https://ibiblemaps.com/deborahs-victory/
King Jabin's top man was Sisera, who commanded a large number of chariots- 900, reinforced with iron. (Spoiler alert: while iron made chariots robust in those times, iron didn't float. That is, unless you had a connection with God like Elisha did in 2 Kings 6:6, when he made an iron ax-head float.)
Back to our prophet Deborah. Remember, she is THE ONE people went to for advice and knowledge. One day, Deborah sought out Barak, who was from Kedesh-naphtali (remember this town!) and said,
“The Lord God of Israel has commanded you, hasn’t he? He told you, ‘Go out, march to Mount Tabor, and take 10,000 men with you from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. 7 I will draw out Sisera, the commanding officer of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and troops, to the Kishon River, where I will drop him right into your hands.’” Judges 4:6-7 (ISV).
Barak responded,
“If you’ll go with me, I’ll go, ... but if you won’t go with me, then I’m not going.” Judges 4:8 (ISV).
This is where the story starts to get a little weird for me. I'm thinking, "Dude- God just told you to go into a battle you will win, and your response is that of an insolent toddler." I've read a variety of interpretations explaining Barak's response. Some suggest he may have acted this way because he desired her support in battle due to her speaking for God, or because he feared Sisera. I don't subscribe to any of those ideas because of Deborah's reaction.
Deborah responded,
“I will surely go with you, but the road that you’re about to take will not lead to honor for you. The Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Judges 4:9 (ISV).
Deborah spoke on behalf of God, who understands our innermost thoughts. She was a respected prophet who spoke the truth. I believe God helped her clarify the intent behind Barak's words. Additionally, Deborah was not a warrior. It would have been risky for her to enter battle. Did Barak expect her to dash across the battlefield, shouting wisdom at the enemy?
Regardless of the situation, Deborah recognized the importance of composing herself and agreeing to Barak's request. I am thankful that God gave her an answer that allowed her to preserve her dignity in front of a man who was attempting to belittle her. Deborah remained committed to honoring God's mission.
Finally, Deborah and Barak marched off to battle. Barak called men from Zebulun and Naphtali to fight against a barrage of chariots. These chariots were not nimble, lightweight chariots. They were like tanks with at least one driver, 2-4 archers, and anywhere from 2-6 horses pulling them. The Israelites were on foot, and the terror they felt with the impending attack on Sisera's army must have been overwhelming.
Barak did lead the Israelites towards Sisera's chariots who were in upheaval. This valley is a prime location for flooding with heavy rain, and the heavy chariots would have had minimal opportunity to divert their direction once they entered a vast area of mud. Also, the Isrealites would have had a clear view of the chaos as they ran down Mt. Tabor to desecrate Sisera's men which, I'm sure now offered them relief and hope they would win this battle.
But Sisera escaped. And this is where Jael, our other heroine comes in.
Stay tuned for Part Two.
I want women to see God the way that God sees them.
God knew Jael's heart. God knows your heart, too.
If you need help recovering from betrayal, remember this:
God loves you deeply and listens to you, even when you can't sense His presence.