Judges 4:21

“Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a nail of the tent, etc.] When she perceived he was fast asleep, and it being now put into her heart to kill him, having an impulse upon her spirit, which she was persuaded, by the effect it had upon her, that it was of God; not filling her with malice and revenge, but a concern for the glory of God, the interest of religion, and the good of Israel, she took this method to effect the death of this enemy of God, and his people; having no arms in the house, for the Kenites used none, she took up an iron pin, with which her tent was fastened to the ground: and took a hammer in her hand; which perhaps she knew full well how to handle, being used to drive the pins of…”

“Then Jael took a nail of the tent--most probably one of the pins with which the tent ropes are fastened to the ground. Escape was almost impossible for Sisera. But the taking of his life by the hand of Jael was murder. It was a direct violation of all the notions of honor and friendship that are usually held sacred among pastoral people, and for which it is impossible to conceive a woman in Jael's circumstances to have had any motive, except that of gaining favor with the victors. Though predicted by Deborah [Jdg 4:9], it was the result of divine foreknowledge only--not the divine appointment or sanction; and though it is praised in the song [Jdg 5:24-27], the eulogy must be considered as…”

“If we can overlook the treachery and violence which belonged to the morals of the age and country, and bear in mind Jael’s ardent sympathies with the oppressed people of God, her faith in the right of Israel to possess the land in which they were now slaves, her zeal for the glory of Yahweh as against the gods of Canaan, and the heroic courage and firmness with which she executed her deadly purpose, we shall be ready to yield to her the praise which is her due. See Judges 3:30 note. return to 'Top of Page'”

“A nail of the tent - Wherewith they used to fasten the tent, which consequently was long and sharp. This might seem a very bold attempt, but it must be considered, that she was encouraged to it, by observing that the heavens and all the elements conspired against him, as one devoted to destruction. In the following son, Deborah doth not commend Jael's words, Jdg 4:18. Turn in my Lord, fear not; but only her action: touching which, this one consideration may abundantly suffice to stop the mouths of objectors. It cannot be denied, that every discourse which is recorded in scripture, is not divinely inspired, because some of them were uttered by the devil, and others by holy men, but mistaken.…”

“took: Jdg 3:21, Jdg 3:31, Jdg 5:26, Jdg 15:15; Sa1 17:43, Sa1 17:49, Sa1 17:50; Co1 1:19, Co1 1:27 a nail: One of the spikes of the tent. See note on Exo 35:18. and took: Heb. and put smote: Psa 3:7 he died: Jdg 5:27 Judges 4:22”