Bible Characters
Jael: The Heroine Who Decided the War Against Sisera (+Quiz)
A lone tent, a dangerous guest, and a peg that decided everything.
Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, is the heroine who decided Deborah's war with her own hands. Her short and powerful story in the Book of Judges earned her a rare blessing - and she is one of the most surprising figures in Bible quizzes.
▶ Play now: the Jael quiz — 50 questions per level
The Flight to the Tent
After the defeat of the Canaanite army at the Kishon brook, the army commander Sisera fled on foot and came to Jael's tent, wife of Heber the Kenite, since there was peace between him and the king of Canaan. He was seeking refuge.
Welcoming the Guest
Jael went out to meet him: "Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me." She covered him, and instead of the water he requested she gave him milk and lulled him to sleep. Sisera asked her to stand at the entrance and hide him.
The Decisive Act
When Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael took a tent peg and a mallet, and with rare courage struck down the mighty army commander. Thus Deborah's prophecy was fulfilled - "The Lord will deliver Sisera into the hand of a woman."
"Most Blessed of Women"
In the Song of Deborah, Jael received a rare blessing: "Most blessed of women is Jael... most blessed of women in the tent." A simple woman from a solitary tent became a symbol of courage and of a decisive turn in history.
An Unexpected Heroine
Jael's story teaches that heroism is not reserved for generals. It was precisely a woman, in a remote tent, who changed the course of Israel's history. Alongside Deborah and Jael, the war against Sisera is a story of women who led the way to victory.
Play the Jael quiz
Bible Quiz now has a dedicated Jael quiz — real questions from the bank across five difficulty levels, 50 questions per level, from the easy questions up to the "Super-Rabbi" level with exact verses and numbers. You can also reach it from the character area or the game screen, via the "by hero" button.
FAQ
Who was Jael?
The wife of Heber the Kenite, who killed Sisera, commander of the Canaanite army, in her tent.
How did Jael strike down Sisera?
After lulling him to sleep with milk, she took a tent peg and a mallet and struck him down.
What blessing did Jael receive?
"Most blessed of women is Jael" - in the Song of Deborah.
How is Jael connected to Deborah?
Deborah prophesied that the victory over Sisera would be by the hand of a woman - and that woman was Jael.