Judges 5:24-27

5:24 The most rewarded of women should be Jael,

the wife of Heber the Kenite!

She should be the most rewarded of women who live in tents.

5:25 He asked for water,

and she gave him milk;

in a bowl fit for a king,

she served him curds.

5:26 Her left hand reached for the tent peg,

her right hand for the workmen’s hammer.

She “hammered” Sisera,

she shattered his skull,

she smashed his head,

she drove the tent peg through his temple.

5:27 Between her feet he collapsed,

he fell limp and was lifeless;

between her feet he collapsed and fell limp,

in the spot where he collapsed,

there he fell limp – violently murdered! 10 


tn Or “blessed.”

tn Or “for mighty ones.”

tn The adjective “left” is interpretive, based on the context. Note that the next line pictures Jael holding the hammer with her right hand.

tn The verb used here is from the same root as the noun “hammer” in the preceding line.

tn Or “head.”

tn The phrase “his head” (an implied direct object) is supplied in the translation for clarification.

tn Heb “she pierced his temple.”

tn Heb “he fell.” The same Hebrew expression occurs two more times in this verse.

tn Heb “and he lay.

10 tn Or “dead, murdered.”