Sisera (army captain) — Bible person

The captain of Jabin’s army (Judg. 4:2), which was routed and destroyed by the army of Barak on the plain of Esdraelon. After all was lost he fled to the settlement of Heber the Kenite in the plain of Zaanaim. Jael, Heber’s wife, received him into her tent with apparent hospitality, and “gave him butter” (i.e., lebben, or curdled milk) “in a lordly dish.” Having drunk the refreshing beverage, he lay down, and soon sank into the sleep of the weary. While he lay asleep Jael crept stealthily up to him, and taking in her hand one of the tent pegs, with a mallet she drove it with such force through his temples that it entered into the ground where he lay, and “at her feet he bowed, he fell; where he bowed, there he fell down dead.” The part of Deborah’s song (Judg. 5:24-27) referring to the death of Sisera (which is a “mere patriotic outburst,” and “is no proof that purer eyes would have failed to see gross sin mingling with Jael’s service to Israel”) is thus rendered by Professor Roberts (Old Testament Revision):

“Extolled above women be Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite, Extolled above women in the tent. He asked for water, she gave him milk; She brought him cream in a lordly dish. She stretched forth her hand to the nail, Her right hand to the workman’s hammer, And she smote Sisera; she crushed his head, She crashed through and transfixed his temples. At her feet he curled himself, he fell, he lay still; At her feet he curled himself, he fell; And where he curled himself, there he fell dead.”

Recorded scripture occurrences (17)

References recorded in the source data; this is not an exhaustive list of mentions.

Show passage in OET: JDG 4:2

OET-RV JDG 4:2

2 so he handed them over to King Yavin of Kena’an (Canaan) who reigned in Hatsor. Sisera was the commander of his army, and he lived in Haroshet-Hagoyim.

OET-LV JDG 4:2

2 And_he_sold _them YHWH in_the _hand _of Yāⱱīn/(Jabin) the _king _of Kənaˊan/(Canaan) who he _reigned in_Ḩāʦōr and_the _commander _of his _army _of_his was_Şīşərāʼ and_he was_dwelling in_Harosheth Haggoyim.

Show passage in OET: JDG 4:7

OET-RV JDG 4:7

7 Yahweh will lure King Yavin’s army commander, Sisera bring his warriors and chariots to the Kishon river, and Yahweh will enable you to defeat them there.”

OET-LV JDG 4:7

7 And_I _will _draw to_you to the _wadi _of Qīshōn DOM Şīşərāʼ the _commander _of the _army _of Yāⱱīn/(Jabin) and_DOM chariotry _of_his and_DOM multitude _of_his and_I_will _give _him in_hand _of_your.

Show passage in OET: JDG 4:9

OET-RV JDG 4:9

9 “I’ll certainly go with you,” she said, “but it won’t be you that’s honoured afterwards, but rather Yahweh will use a woman to defeat Sisera.” So Deborah accompanied Barak to Kedesh.

OET-LV JDG 4:9

9 And_she/it _said certainly _(go) I _will _go with_you nevertheless if/because not it _will _be honour _of_your on the_way which you are_going if/because in_the_hand _of a _woman YHWH he _will _sell DOM Şīşərāʼ and_ Dəbōrāh _she/it _arose and_she _went with Bārāq to_Qedesh.

Jump to OET JDG 4:2 section.

Jump to OET JDG 4:7 section.

Jump to OET JDG 4:9 section.

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