Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Judges 4:18 - 4:24

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Judges 4:18 - 4:24


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Sisera's Death

v. 18. And Jael went out to meet Sisera,
after the manner of Oriental hospitality, her object being to coax him into the house, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. She wanted to disarm all suspicions. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, probably feeling safer in the women's apartments, she covered him with a mantle, with a close, ruglike covering.

v. 19. And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty,
for it was a rule of hospitality that whoever had eaten or drunk anything in the tent was received into the peace of the house. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him, having effectually allayed all his suspicions.

v. 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 He felt altogether secure, and lay down to sleep after giving Jael these instructions.

v. 21. And Jael, Heber's wife,
mindful of the fact that the man lying in her tent was a tyrant, a ruthless enemy of a nation with which her family was joined in the bonds of the closest relationship, took a nail of the tent, one of the tent-pins, 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, from his long flight. So he died.

v. 22. And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
Deborah's word that the Lord would sell Sisera into the hand of a woman had been literally fulfilled.

v. 23. So God subdued on that day Jabin, the king of Canaan, before the children of Israel,
by this complete defeat of his general and the entire army.

v. 24. And the hand of the children of Israel prospered,
they gained in power, and prevailed against Jabin, the king of Canaan, resting ever more heavily upon him, until they had destroyed Jabin, king of Canaan. The rule of this one king at least was definitely at an end. Note: Faith shows its power also in weak instruments, for it is the strength of God and not of men. Faith, which always keeps God's Word and promise before the eyes, is able to enter into battle at all times and to gain the victory. That is the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith.