Jael and Sisera

Jael and Sisera
Judges 4

This story takes place during the time of the Judges. The children of Israel did wrong things before the LORD God, and so the LORD God brought them under the control of the king of Canaan. And the captain of the king's army was named Sisera, and he was very cruel to the children of Israel.

At that time a lady named Deborah was judge over Israel, and she was a prophetess. And she sent for a man named Barak to fight against Sisera, because the LORD told her that He would give Barak victory over Sisera. But Barak told her that he would only go if she came with him, and so Deborah told Barak that the LORD would let a woman bring about the death of Sisera.

And so Deborah went with Barak, and told him "Up, for this is the day in which the LORD has brought Sisera into your hand." and when Sisera found out that the children of Israel were gathered together, he also gathered all his chariots together, and when the battle began, the Lord was in control, and Sisera got down off his chariot and ran away on foot.

He ran to the tent of a woman called Jael, whose husband was part of a group of people who were at peace with the king. And so Jael went out to meet Sisera, and told him to come into her tent, and to not be afraid. And when he came into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. (That is a piece of clothing sort of like a blanket.)

And then Sisera asked Jael for a drink of water because he was thirsty. But Jael opened a bottle of milk, and gave him a drink of milk, and covered him up. And he told her to stand in the door of the tent, and that if anyone came to look for him, she should tell them that Sisera was not there.

But when Sisera was fast asleep, Jael went to him and killed him. And when Barak came to Jael's tent, Jael went and met him and told him that she would show him Sisera, and Barak found that Sisera was already dead, just as Deborah had prophesied.

And so Israel won the battles against the king of Canaan.

Memory Verse: Judges 4:14 "..Up; for this is the day in which the LORD has brought Sisera into your hand:...."

Questions:
1 Why were the children of Israel under the control of the king of Canaan?
2 Who was Deborah?
3 Why did Deborah say that Sisera would be killed by a woman?
4 What did Jael give Sisera to drink?
5 What happened when Barak got to the tent?

Answers:
1 Because they did wrong things before the LORD God.
2 She was judge over Israel and she was a prophetess
3 Because Barak said that he would only go to battle if Deborah went with him.
4 Milk.
5 He found that Sisera had been killed by Jael, just as Deborah had prophesied.

Vicki C. Gross/July'03

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