Jael Did God's Will

By Mary Vee
Judges 4

Jael's Thoughts

This is part two of my story, click here to read part one.

My husband, Heber, had not returned from his business, yet. When I walked out back to stir our dinner, which busily bubbled over the fire, a servant came to me to report we had a visitor.  I looked at the pot and felt good about making a little extra food this time.

I had been a traveler before and had received a meal and a place to sleep from kind strangers. Perhaps I could help someone in need.  I wiped my hands and hurried to greet the visitor. To my surprise, Sisera, commander of the Canaanite army stood before me. 

His eyes flashed like a scared hunted animal. I invited him into our tent for shade as was the custom. He cowered and whipped his head to the right and left as if looking for someone before entering the tent. Once inside our home he sighed and wiped the sweat from his forehead. 

My husband had made a peace agreement with Jabin, the king of Canaan. Jabin captured the Israelites, tortured them and made them slaves.  He and his commander, Sisera, bragged to my husband about what they had done.  Heber didn't seem to mind. He made a peace agreement with king Jabin to spied on the Israelite's which allowed us to live on Jabin's land peaceably.

I didn't like the news king Jabin and Sisera told about the Israelite slaves. The Israelite's became family to us when their leader, Moses, married a daughter from our family. 


Seeing Sisera afraid made me realize the power of Israelite God.

Sisera stumbled to one of our mats, laid down, and asked for something to drink. I brought him a drink and covered him with a blanket. 

Sisera snored into a deep sleep. 


While he rested, I cleaned my home. As I swept, I noticed an extra tent peg laying on the ground. I picked it up and had a idea come to me. I could help the Israelites!

I chose a hammer out of the pile of tools and tip toed back to the mat where Sisera slept. Slowly I knelt, placed the tent peg over his head, raised the hammer and hit the peg with all my strength.  


Just like that, Sisera stopped snoring.

A moment later a servant called from outside the tent. "Another visitor. Barak, commander of the Israelite army is here."

I ran out to meet him and said, "Come. I will show you the man you're looking for." 

He raised his sword to protect himself and followed me into the tent.  Barak's eyes fell to the floor where Sisera lay. He gasped. "Just as Deborah the judge prophesied. Sisera has fallen to the hand of a woman." 

Commander Barak called his men in to take Sisera away. He accepted a cup of water before leaving.

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1. Why did Sisera visit Jael and her husband?
2. Why didn't Jael like Sisera?
3. Jael's husband made a ____________ agreement with Jabin, king of Canaan.
4. What did the king of Jabin do to the Israelites?
5. Why did this bother Jael?
6. What did Jael do?


If you missed part one of the story, be sure to go back and read it to find clues to today's answers.  for part one, click here