The Kenite Woman - Worthy Christian Forums

The woman stood at the doorway and watched as Jabin’s men retreated from Baraks advancing forces. When soldiers approached her tent she would wave them on. “Nothing to see here,” she muttered to herself. A few times she had to step back so the soldiers could look inside. “No men in here?” they would ask. Jael would wave her hand in the direction of her large empty room and they would nod, and then be on their way. The room, of course, was empty except for piles of rugs and carpeting for sitting and sleeping.

Jael thought of the things left behind when they made their move to Kadesh. Her husband Heber insisted that the break from their own tribe, the Kenites, would improve their lives. Jael, however, thought that highly unlikely. She remembered the stories that were passed down from generation to generation. She knew that the Kenites had been allies to Israel since Moses led them from Egypt.

1Sa 15:6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

Her own husband was descended from Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law.

Jdg 4:11 Now Heber the Kenite, [which was] of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which [is] by Kedesh.

Now, however, all was changed for the two of them since her husband’s new alliance with Jabin, the Canaanite king of Hazor.

These past twenty years Jabin oppressed the Israelites with heavy tributes. Jael watched her friends suffer under Canaanite rule. Despite her husband’s wishes, Jael remained in contact with many Israelites. This is how she came to know of Deborah.

To be continued...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/41.gif) Oh goody!

Another story!

.....and I LIKE this story! This is far better than any fanfiction stories I read......

a.

As promised, this one will be SHORT! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Oh boy another story! I just love your bible stories!

Loosely adapted from Judges 4, 5 (remember - trav style (IMG:style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif) )

Days earlier, Jael heard her neighbors speak of the pending war between the Israelites and the alliance of Jabin, king of Hazor. Her best friend, Sarah, had served in the court of Deborah and was just recently dismissed to be at home with her family. On this particular day, when the two women gathered at the well, they did more talking than jug filling.

“Deborah sits in the open, under this beautiful palm tree, where she holds court,” Sarah explained to her friend. “And, she is a prophetess, you know.”

“Yes, I know this Sarah. Please, though, tell me again of her visit with Barak.” Jael’s interest in Barak was personal. She had come to know his family during their time here, in Kedesh.

“As I said earlier,” Sarah said in a lowered voice, “she told him to gather 10,000 soldiers to march against Sisera’s men. Can you imagine a mere 10,000 against 900 iron chariots? Jael, they will be slaughtered!”

“Perhaps,” replied Jael. “But she is a prophetess, as you say. Perhaps God is going to war with Barak.”

“And Deborah,” Sarah interjected. “Remember, he told her that he would go to war, but only if she joined him. How dare he question the order of God!”

“Ah, but did he? Perhaps he is simply wanting the prophetess there in case God should wish to speak to him again.”

“That may be,” answered Sarah. “But Deborah told him that because of his words a woman, instead of him, would receive the honor of the victory. And what better woman,” Sarah smiled, “than Deborah herself.”

The women finished filling their jugs and said their goodbyes. On the way back to her tent Jael thought again of her husband’s alliance with Jabin. For many years the Kenites were known for their metalworking. Heber, her husband, was one of the best. This made him especially favored by Jabin, who took such pride in his fleet of chariots. His Commander, Sisera, ruled the charioteers with an iron fist. He was feared by the enemy and his own men, alike. There was none like him all the land.

--------- OP’s comments -----------
The iron chariots that Sisera commanded were comparable in effectiveness to our present day tanks. Their mere presence would have struck fear in the hearts of the men they faced. The chariots were manned by a driver and a rider who carried both sword and bow. It is known that the Hurrians trained their chariot horses to be adept war horses. An interesting tidbit is that it is believed that the name Sisera is of Hurrian origin. Perhaps Jabin’s Commander was a mercenary hired for his talents? Whether he was or not, Sisera was a formidable foe.

Another interesting thing to consider concerning Barak: though he did demand that Deborah go with him, still he is mentioned in the "Faith Hall of Fame." So, what was his motive? Interesting, indeed.

Hbr 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and [of] Barak, and [of] Samson, and [of] Jephthae; [of] David also, and Samuel, and [of] the prophets:

Awww... I was here a few minutes ago and there still isn't another post yet..
c'mom traveller...step it up... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif)


My gandchild is sitting at my feet begging for cupcake..
Hummm... we have something in common... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Thank you for the stories... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/emot-hug.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

hmmmmm...... I can't seem to find a high-steppin smiley. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

General Barak and Deborah arrived in Kedesh with a flurry of activity. Barak called men from Zebulun, Naphtali, Rueben, Ephraim and Benjamin. From these tribes they came, soldiers and farmers alike, to do battle with warriors of Sisera. In all, there amassed about 10,000.

Now, Heber and Jael lived on the outskirts of town. They watched as the men began to arrive, and knew that what Sarah said earlier to be truth. War was coming. Heber bid his farewells to his wife and left to go warn Jabin of the impending attack on Sisera. Jael remained behind, and watched as the crude army grew in number. She had seen Sisera’s men, and feared that this force before her would suffer greatly at their hands.

Jael saw the mighty Deborah as she walked through the crowd beside Barak, and gave encouragement to the men. Though she couldn’t hear the words of Deborah, she knew them to be rousing when the men shouted triumphantly after hearing her. Finally, organised into units, they marched off in the direction of Mount Tabor.

Now, what Jael didn’t know was that Sisera and his men were just across the Meggido plains and would meet the attackers in little time. And, true to word, he had with him all 900 of his chariots. Once Heber gave witness that Barak’s army grew and would march to Mount Tabor, Sisera shouted orders and his force advanced across the plains.

Of course, after the war Jael would hear the tales told and the songs sung. She would hear how the men positioned themselves high up on Mount Tabor where they could see across the plains. From that vantage point they saw with clarity the advancing forces of Sisera, and froze in fear. Certainly she would hear how a woman judge, Deborah, marched up and down the line of them, shouting the words of triumph and victory and ending with the final words to Barak that heated their hearts to action.

"Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the LORD go out before you?" (Judg 4:14)

Oh yes, Jael would hear of the heroics of war, both real and exaggerated by men who normally herded goats or other less dramatic deeds. She would hear of the marksmanship of the Benjamites, who fought valiantly beside the others. Yes, she would hear of all of these things - along with the miracle wrought by God on that historical day.

To be cont'd....

Barak chose to fight from the heights of Mount Tabor. Though it made hand to hand combat more difficult, it kept the chariots from advancing. On and on they fought with neither side gaining the advantage. Sisera, however, saw that the ploy of keeping the men on the mount, and called for a retreat. Barak’s men followed. The war slowly moved down the mountain toward the waiting chariots.

Then suddenly, with a wave of God’s mighty Hand, storm clouds came. Thunder rumbled and lightening cracked and the rains began to fall. Torrential rains. Soon, rivulets came down the mountain and formed larger streams that ran along the plains. (In Texas, we call it a gully washer) Those widened and the skies darkened and thunder rolled. The plains became bogs. Iron chariots cannot run in bogs. The well trained war horses stumbled on the swampy plains, and faltered to a halt. Drivers and riders alike were forced to leave the protection of their armed fortress, requiring them to fight in unfamiliar territory – man against man. No iron machine would aid them now.

It was an unseasonable rain that fell that day. God went before them.

Sisera’s men retreated across the plains. They scattered in all directions, with Barak’s men in fast pursuit. Sisera, though, diverted back towards Kedesh, and Heber’s tent. He knew where it was, and thought to seek refuge there.

Jael was outside her tent when she saw the man himself running towards her. She knew he came for shelter. She drew back her door and allowed him entry. As was the custom, she made him feel welcome.

Jdg 4:19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty.

Instead of water, she brought him milk. This gesture meant that he was an honored guest.

Jdg 4:20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.

And so she did.

Jael covered Sisera with one of the many rugs in her tent. From a casual glance, the room appeared empty. No one would suspect a common woman, especially one of neutral standing, to hide a general in her tent.

She stood in the doorway, thinking on many things. Of course, we will never know what those thoughts were. There are a few things about the culture, however, that we do know. We know that it was the Bedouin women that pitched the tents. At an early age they learned how to drive a tent peg through the material and into the ground – many times with one sharp, forceful blow.

So, when she spotted Barak on the horizon, coming her way, we really don’t know why she chose to approach the sleeping Sisera. Of course, she stopped along the way to pick up her womanly tools – the hammer and the tent peg. Certainly we don’t know what went through her mind as she held the peg to his temple with one hand, and drew back the hammer with the other. We do figure, however, that one sharp, forceful blow was all it took to drive the peg through the material, and into the ground. Sisera, the tormenter of many, probably never felt a thing.

The other thing we know, is that when Jael heard those tales told, and those songs sung, about the heroics of war, that she was one of the main characters.

The end. (short – as promised.)