Judges 4:15–24

¹⁵As Barak’s men marched out, the Lord drove Sisera away from the field of battle. He scattered all of Sisera’s chariots. Barak’s men struck down Sisera’s army with their swords. Sisera left his chariot behind. He ran away on foot.

¹⁶But Barak chased Sisera’s chariots and army. He chased them all the way to Harosheth Haggoyim. All of Sisera’s men were killed with swords. Not even one was left.

¹⁷But Sisera ran away on foot. He ran to the tent of Jael. She was the wife of Heber, the Kenite. Sisera ran there because Heber’s family was friendly toward Jabin, the king of Hazor.

¹⁸Jael went out to meet Sisera. “Come in, sir,” she said. “Come right in. Don’t be afraid.” So he entered her tent. Then she covered him up.

¹⁹“I’m thirsty,” he said. “Please give me some water.” So Jael opened a bottle of milk. The bottle was made out of animal skin. She gave him a drink of milk. Then she covered him up again.

²⁰“Stand in the doorway of the tent,” he told her. “Someone might come by and ask you, ‘Is anyone here?’ If that happens, say ‘No.’ ”

²¹But Heber’s wife Jael picked up a tent stake and a hammer. She went quietly over to Sisera. He was lying there, fast asleep. He was very tired. She drove the stake through his head right into the ground. So he died.

²²Barak came by because he was chasing Sisera. Jael went out to meet him. “Come right in,” she said. “I’ll show you the man you are looking for.” So he went in with her. Sisera was lying there with the stake through his head. He was dead.

²³On that day God brought Jabin under Israel’s control. He was a king in Canaan. ²⁴Israel’s power grew stronger and stronger against Jabin, a king in Canaan. They became so strong that they destroyed him.