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Judges 4:18-21

King James Version (KJV)

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— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

18. And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 19. And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. 20. Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. 21. Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

Judges 4:18-21 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Judges 4:18

Theological / Devotional

Jael. Heber was probably away from home, leaving his wife Jael in charge of the tent encampment. Servants may already have brought word that Jabin’s army commander was approaching on foot. Perhaps word of the Hebrew victory had preceded Sisera’s coming. Inasmuch as there were peaceful relations between the Kenites and the Canaanites, Sisera would naturally expect to find sustenance and rest among the Kenites.

Fear not. The words suggest probable suspicion, which Jael sought to allay.

Mantle. Sisera lay down and Jael covered him with some sort of blanket or rug. The Hebrew word translated “mantle” occurs only here in the Bible, and its exact meaning is unknown. The context, nevertheless, shows that it describes a covering.

By SdaBc