Jael: The Gentle WarriorSample

Welcome again, and thank you for joining me as we continue this epic journey!

Yesterday’s reading concluded with Barak agreeing to wage war against Sisera only if Deborah accompanies him (Judges 4:8). Let us pick up the account there.

“She said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh, and ten thousand men went up with him; Deborah also went up with him.”(Judges 4:9-10).

Imagine for a moment … you are a leading warrior from the great tribe of Nephtali. You have been called upon by the famous prophetess Deborah to lead an army against Sisera and his 900 chariots of iron. You have been trained to fight since you were a little boy by your abba’s side. You have proven yourself proficient in battle. Day in and day out, you train with your fellow brothers. You disciplined your body – you ran the miles – you hit the targets with unparalleled accuracy! The echo of Deborah’s prophecy hits like a ton of bricks …the LORD will give Sisera over into the hands of a woman!

Friends, when we choose inaction over obedience, fear over faith, we inevitably miss reward and blessing from God.

Within this account, Barak's choice aligns with the broader framework set forth by God's plan.

“Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, from the sons of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh.”Judges 4:11 NASB.

We learn later (in verse 21) that Heber’s wife is Jael. Let us look at what verse 11 can tell us about Heber and Jael.

Heber was a descendant of Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, by way of his son Hobab (Numbers 10:29-33).

Jethro (also called Reuel the Midianite) was the father of Moses’ wife Zipporah. He was a priest of Midian (Exodus 3:1). Jethro was part of the Kenite Tribe, a nomadic people known for their skills at metalworking. Jethro played a crucial role in supporting Moses and the Israelites. After Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, Jethro visited him in the wilderness and offered valuable advice on governance and leadership, suggesting that Moses delegate responsibilities to others to avoid burnout (Exodus 18).

Hobab and his descendants (the Kenites) chose to live near the Israelites throughout their wilderness wandering, and as close allies, God blessed them. It is reasonable to believe that the Kenites' desire to remain with the Israelites was in part due to their desire to worship the Israelite God, Yahweh.

The Kenites chose to remain close to the Israelites as they began settling into the Promised Land (Judges 1:16), and evidence suggests that the Kenites and the Israelites intermarried (1 Chronicles 2:55). Again, this makes a compelling case that some Kenites worshiped Yahweh and chose to live under Hebrew law. God’s blessing continued to remain on the Kenites because of their close ties to the Israelites (1 Samuel 15:6).

Heber separated himself from his tribe and chose to move far away, near Kedesh.

Why would Heber choose to remove himself from his tribe located in the Negev (Judges 1:16)? The Bible does not specify why Heber chose to move away from his family. However, I would like to pose a theory based upon what we already know.

The city of Kedesh was in the territory of Naphtali, situated along Israel’s northern border. The Negev is a desert region located in southern Israel in the territory of Judah. As the crow flies, the distance is about one hundred miles. Not an easy journey to be sure!

Heber was a Kenite, a tribe known for its skill with metalworking. Heber lived near Kedesh, about 10-15 miles from the city of Hazor, which was Sisera’s military headquarters. A plausible theory is that Heber chose to relocate his family because there was ample metalworking to be had in Hazor due to the military demand for armor, chariots, weapons, and the like. The other caveat to consider is that Heber did not follow Yahweh, and this would also factor into his choice to move away.

Come back tomorrow as we continue the journey!