Judges 4:21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 4:17-24

We have seen the army of the Canaanites totally 3434 routed. It is said (Ps. 83:9, 10, where the defeat of this army is pleaded as a precedent for God's doing the like in after times) that they became as dung for the earth. Now here we have, I. The fall of their general, Sisera, captain of the host, in whom, it is likely, Jabin their king put an entire confidence, and therefore was not himself present in the action. Let us trace the steps of this mighty man's fall. 1. He quitted his chariot,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:21

Then Jael, Heber's wife, took a nail of the tent ,.... When she perceived he was fast asleep, and it being now put into her heart to kill him, having an impulse upon her spirit, which she was persuaded, by the effect it had upon her, that it was of God; not filling her with malice and revenge, but a concern for the glory of God, the interest of religion, and the good of Israel, she took this method to effect the death of this enemy of God, and his people; having no arms in the house, for the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 4:21

A nail of the tent - One of the spikes by which they fasten to the ground the cords which are attached to the cloth or covering. He was fast asleep and weary - As he lay on one side, and was overwhelmed with sleep through the heat and fatigues of the day, the piercing of his temples must have in a moment put him past resistance. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 4:21

If we can overlook the treachery and violence which belonged to the morals of the age and country, and bear in mind Jael’s ardent sympathies with the oppressed people of God, her faith in the right of Israel to possess the land in which they were now slaves, her zeal for the glory of Yahweh as against the gods of Canaan, and the heroic courage and firmness with which she executed her deadly purpose, we shall be ready to yield to her the praise which is her due. See Judges 3:30 note. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 4:21-22

Judges 4:21-22 . Then Jael took a nail of the tent That is, one of that sort on which the cords of the tent were fastened, and which consequently were of a large size. Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest Thus both parts of Deborah’s prophecy concerning Sisera were fulfilled. He was delivered into the hand of Barak, according to the prediction, Judges 4:7; but not alive, and therefore not to Barak’s honour, as was foretold Judges 4:9. For, when he came into her tent,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 4:1-24

Deliverance under Deborah (4:1-5:31)Hazor, chief city of the north, had been conquered and burnt by Joshua (Joshua 11:10-13). However, not all the people had been destroyed. Having rebuilt Hazor, they now took revenge on the northern tribes, especially Zebulun and Naphtali, and ruled them cruelly for twenty years (4:1-3). (To understand fully how God saved Israel at this time, we must read the historical outline in Chapter 4 together with the song of victory in Chapter 5.)Israel’s deliverer on... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Judges 4:21

nail of the tent = a tent peg. Constantly tents are taken down and put up by the women to the present day. So he died. The first often recorded deaths at the hands of women: Sisera (Judges 4:21 ); Abimelech (Judges 9:53 . 2 Samuel 11:21 ); Sheba (2 Samuel 20:22 ); the harlot's child (1 Kings 3:19 ); prophets (1 Kings 18:4 ); Naboth (1 Kings 21:9 , 1 Kings 21:10 ); a son by his mother (2 Kings 6:29 ); seed royal (2 Kings 11:1 . 2 Chronicles 22:10 ); Haman's sons (Esther 9:13-14 ); John Baptist... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 4:21

Judges 4:21. Then Jael, Heber's wife, &c.— This nail was one of those great pins with which they fastened the tents to the ground. Bishop Patrick upon this event observes, that she might as well have let Sisera lie in his profound sleep till Barak took him, if she had not felt a Divine power moving her to this, that the prophesy of Deborah might be fulfilled. Nothing but this authority from God could warrant such a fact, which seemed a breach of hospitality, and to be attended with several... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 4:21

21. Then Jael took a nail of the tent—most probably one of the pins with which the tent ropes are fastened to the ground. Escape was almost impossible for Sisera. But the taking of his life by the hand of Jael was murder. It was a direct violation of all the notions of honor and friendship that are usually held sacred among pastoral people, and for which it is impossible to conceive a woman in Jael's circumstances to have had any motive, except that of gaining favor with the victors. Though... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 4:1-24

1. The victory over Jabin and Sisera ch. 4 read more

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