JAEL KILLETH SISERA

To

AFTER the death of Ehud, the Israelites as they had before done, embraced the idolatries of the heathen. punish them for this debasing vacillation, the Almighty delivered them into the hands of Jabin, who, assuming the title of King of Canaan, fixed his imperial residence at Hazor. Having appointed Sisera, an experienced general, to the command of his army, he ordered him to attack the Israelites, already appalled at his formidable preparations. In the midst of their dismay, Deborah, an eminent prophetess, who had become a person of considerable repute in Israel as a dispenser of justice, induced Barak, after some unmanly reluctance on his part, to march against Jabin's general. Barak posted his army in an advantageous posi tion on Mount Tabor, and there awaited the enemy's approach. Sisera, in the full confidence of victory, advanced without delay from Harosheth, crossed the river Kishon, and encamped at the foot of the mountain, in hopes of cutting off the Hebrew leader's retreat. But Barak, anticipating his purpose, marched suddenly forward, and coming unexpectedly upon the hosts of Canaan, engaged and totally routed them. Sisera, seeing his army discomfited, fled for security to the tent of Heber the Kenite, who being absent, the Canaanitish general claimed the rights of hospitality from his wife, as Heber was Jabin's ally. Deceived by her promise of protection, and having refreshed himself with a draught of milk, first claiming from her a promise to admit no one into the tent, he lay down upon the floor and fell asleep, when his treacherous hostess "took a nail of the tent, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground (for he was fast asleep and weary); so he died."