Jael: Mountain-goat, the wife of Heber the Kenite
(Judges 4:17-22) When the
Canaanites were defeated by Barak, Sisera, the captain of Jabin's
army, fled and sought refuge with the friendly tribe of Heber,
beneath the oaks of Zaanaim. As he drew near, Jael invited him to
enter her tent. He did so, and as he lay wearied on the floor he fell
into a deep sleep. She then took in her left hand one of the great
wooden pins ("nail") which fastened down the cords of the tent, and
in her right hand the mallet, or "hammer," used for driving it into
the ground, and stealthily approaching her sleeping guest, with one
well-directed blow drove the nail through his temples into the earth
(Judges 5:27) She then led Barak, who was in pursuit, into her tent, and
boastfully showed him what she had done.
