Jael — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Wife of Heber. Though her husband was from the Kenite tribe, a longtime ally of Israel, he had chosen to side with Jabin, the Canaanite king. Jael demonstrated her loyalty to Israel, Jabin’s enemy, however, by inviting Sisera, Jabin’s general, into her tent, giving him milk instead of water, providing him a place to sleep, and then driving a tent peg into his temple (Jgs 4:17-18, 21-22 OET JDG 4:17–18 · OET JDG 4:21–22). Deborah, the inspired poetess, reflecting on the God-given victory over the Canaanites, praises Jael for this deed (5:6, 24-31 OET JDG 5:6 · OET JDG 5:24–31).

Show passage in OET: JDG 4:17–18; JDG 4:21–22

OET-RV JDG 4:17

17 But Sisera had fled on foot and ran to Ya’el’s tent (Hever the Keyni’s wife) because there was peace between King Yavin of Hatsor and the house of Hever the Keyni.

OET-RV JDG 4:18

18 Ya’el went out to meet Sisera and told him, “Stop and rest, my master. Stop and rest here. Don’t be afraid.” So he turned and went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

OET-RV JDG 4:21

21 Then Hever’s wife Ya’el got a hammer and a tent peg and crept in silently, driving the peg through his temple and pounding it into the ground,. He’d been tired and was sleeping soundly, and it killed him.

OET-RV JDG 4:22

22 Meanwhile Barak had been searching for Sisera, and Ya’el went out to meet him. “Come in here,” she told him, “and I’ll show you the man you’ve been searching for.” He followed her into the tent and wow—Sisera was lying there dead with the peg still through his temple.

OET-LV JDG 4:17

17 And_Şīşərāʼ he _fled on_feet _of_his to the _tent _of Yāˊēl/(Jael) the _wife _of of _Ḩeⱱer the_Qēynī if/because peace was_between Yāⱱīn/(Jabin) the _king _of Ḩāʦōr and_between the _house _of Ḩeⱱer the_Qēynī.

OET-LV JDG 4:18

18 And_ Yāˊēl _she _went _out to_meet Şīşərāʼ and_she/it _said to_him/it turn_aside my_master turn_aside to_me do _not be _afraid and_he _turned _aside to_her/it to_the_tent and_she_covered _him with_covering.

OET-LV JDG 4:21

21 And_ Yāˊēl the _wife _of Ḩeⱱer _she/it _took DOM the _peg _of the _tent and_she _put DOM the_hammer in_hand _of_her and_she _went to_him/it in_secrecy and_she _drove DOM the_peg in_temple _of_his and_it _went _down on _the_earth and_he was_sleeping and_he _was _weary and_he/it _died.

OET-LV JDG 4:22

22 And_BEHOLD/LO/SEE Bārāq was_pursuing DOM Şīşərāʼ and_ Yāˊēl/(Jael) _she _went _out to_meet_him and_she/it _said to_him/it come and_I_will _show _you DOM the_man whom you are_seeking and_he _went to_her/it and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE Şīşərāʼ was_lying dead and_the_peg was_in_temple _of_his.

Show passage in OET: JDG 5:6; JDG 5:24–31

OET-RV JDG 5:6

⇔  6 In the days of Anat’s son Shamgar,
⇔ ≈ in the days of Ya’el,
⇔ main roads were abandoned,
⇔ ≈ and travellers walked twisting trails.

OET-RV JDG 5:24

⇔  24 Ya’el will be an honoured woman.
⇔ The wife of Hever the Keyni.
⇔ She deserves the most praise out of all women who live in tents.

OET-RV JDG 5:25

25 He asked for water—she gave him milk,
⇔ Yogurt in a bowl suitable for the leading citizens.

OET-RV JDG 5:26

26 Her hands reached out for the tent peg,
⇔ and her right hand for the workman’s hammer.
⇔ She hammered Sisera—shattering his head—
⇔ shattering and piercing his temple.

OET-RV JDG 5:27

27 He bowed down between her feet—he fell—he lay down.
⇔ He bowed down between her feet—where he bowed down, there he fell—destroyed.

OET-RV JDG 5:28

⇔  28 Sisera’s mother looked out the window.
⇔ She peered through the lattice, crying out,
⇔ ‘Why is his chariot so slow to return?
⇔ Why are the hoofbeats of his chariots delayed?’

OET-RV JDG 5:29

29 Her wise ladies answered her.
⇔ Indeed, she keeps telling herself

OET-RV JDG 5:30

30 ‘Won’t they be gathering and dividing the plunder?
⇔ A woman or two for each warrior to bear children.
⇔ Finding some colourful material for Sisera.
⇔ Taking some embroidered fabrics.
⇔ Dyed scarves as plunder.’

OET-RV JDG 5:31