The story of Jael is also the story of Deborah and the story of General Sisera’s mother. As we drop ourselves into the life of Jael, it is good to understand the situation around her. The Israelites “again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” As Old Testament punishment is often meted out, the Israelites had to suffer at the hands of King Jabin of Canaan for twenty years. Eventually they cry out to the Lord for help. Their help comes in the person of Deborah. She is a prophetess and a judge of Israel. She summons Barak to lead the Israelites against the army of King Jabin, led by his general, Sisera. Barak agrees to go into battle only if Deborah goes with him. She, with her prophetic voice, responds that she will go with him, but he will not receive glory for victory over Sisera, “for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” If I were Barak I would bet that woman is Deborah. Perhaps even Deborah thinks that by going to the battle she will be the one to settle matters with Sisera. All of the enemy’s army was felled by the sword, except for General Sisera who ran away. Sisera ran on foot to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite. The king and the Kenite people were on peaceful terms, and Jael invited Sisera into her tent. “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; have no fear.” She offered hospitality of milk, a comfortable place to rest, and a sense of safety. Sisera fell asleep and Jael took a hammer and a tent peg and drove the peg into his temple and he died. When Barak came in search of Sisera, Jael took him into the tent. “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” Much can be read between the lines of this story. Jael’s husband isn’t mentioned as being home; Sisera was a powerful man of his times; Jael was a woman of her times, little more than the livestock in the fields. If she had been physically taken by Sisera in the past, it might explain why Jael did what she did. But also, though she was not a member of a tribe of Israel, some Hebrew blood ran through her veins. Was she motivated by self or by the larger sense of kinship?
The final woman of interest in this story is Sisera’s mother. Deborah and Barak sing a song of victory following the defeat of King Jabin and his army. Here is an excerpt:
“Out of the window she peered, the mother of Sisera gazed through the lattice: ‘Why is the chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?’
As General Sherman said, “War is hell.” Deborah made the decision to wage war, Jael fulfilled the role of warrior, and Sisera’s mother mourned. It’s hard to imagine that any of these three women were ever the same, each being an impetus for death. Deborah’s song of victory glorifies the battle and gives thanks to the Lord, and Deborah remembers Jael in the song, declaring her most blessed. Does Deborah look beyond the victory and see what has been asked of the warrior? Do we look at our own nations’ female warriors and understand how our nations’ motives have wounded these women forever? Deborah also remembers Sisera’s mother. Was it with self pride or was it with compassion? I hope it was with compassion. Do we remember the mothers who have lost their children warriors to battle? Do we lift up these mothers in support and prayer as they mourn their children’s lives or as they care for their children’s mental and physical wounds?
We all are called upon to protect ourselves, be it setting up personal boundaries to avoid exhaustion and exploitation, or be it taking up arms against those who threaten us and our loved ones. Ideally, the day will come soon when our world will accept all as beloved children of God and we will treat each other accordingly. Let us work to that end.
I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Lindsay Hardin Freeman on receiving the 2015 Illuminations Book Award for her book, Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter. The award’s purpose is to shine a light on exemplary Christian books. Bravo, Lindsay, for receiving the Gold! It is well deserved.
++++ Coming February 1st ++++
Chapter 9
Abigail
Content provided by Author Lindsay Hardin Freeman
Illustration: Claire Elam