Jael

Jael and Sisera (Artemisia Gentileschi)

Jael is a heroine of the Bible who aids the Israelites in their war with King Jabin of the city of Hazor in Canaan by killing Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army.

Quotes

Bible

• And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; do not fear.” And when he had turned aside with her into the tent, she covered him with a blanket.

Then he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a jug of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him. And he said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’ ”

Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. And then, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, “Come, I will show you the man whom you seek.” And when he went into her tent, there lay Sisera, dead with the peg in his temple.

• • Book of Judges 4:18-22 NKJV.

• Most blessed among women is Jael, / The wife of Heber the Kenite; / Blessed is she among women in tents. / He asked for water, she gave milk; / She brought out cream in a lordly bowl. / She stretched her hand to the tent peg, / Her right hand to the workmen’s hammer;/ She pounded Sisera, she pierced his head, / She split and struck through his temple.
  • Book of Judges 5:24-26 NKJV.

Others

• Yes, that God who in the crimson wave | closed the river that pursued Israel, | who placed the hammer in the fist of the manly Jael | and directed the blow.
  • Sì, quel Dio che nell'onda vermiglia | chiuse il rio che inseguiva Israele, | quel che in pugno alla maschia Giaele | pose il maglio, ed il colpo guidò.
    • Alessandro Manzoni, 'Marzo 1821