Jael was the wife of the Kenite Heber and became famous for killing the Canaanite commander Sisera. She invited the fleeing Sisera into her tent and killed him by driving a tent peg through his temple while he slept. Her courageous act was celebrated in the song of victory sung by Deborah and Barak.
After the Israelites defeated the Canaanite army, the commander Sisera fled on foot and came to Jael's tent. She invited him in and gave him milk to drink.
17Meanwhile Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
18Jael came out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me. Do not be afraid." So he turned aside to her in the tent, and she covered him with a blanket.
While Sisera slept exhausted, Jael took a tent peg and a hammer and drove the peg through his temple so that he died. This fulfilled Deborah's prophecy that a woman would receive the honor of victory.
21But Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg and a hammer in her hand, went quietly to him, and drove the peg through his temple into the ground while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. So he died.
22Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. "Come," she said, "I will show you the man you are looking for." He went in with her, and there lay Sisera, dead, with the tent peg through his temple.
22Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. "Come," she said, "I will show you the man you are looking for." He went in with her, and there lay Sisera, dead, with the tent peg through his temple.
26Her hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman's hammer. She struck Sisera, she crushed his head; she shattered and pierced his temple.