Misplaced Trust

When Sisera escaped during the battle, he looked for safe haven. Sisera went to Jael’s tent, the wife of Heber. She invited him to come in and for him to rest. Jael covered him with a quilt and gave him milk when he asked for something to drink. He went to sleep and he assumed that he was safe on that tent. He never woke again because Jael brutally killed him. In Judges 4:17-22, it stated:

Sisera, meanwhile, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was an alliance between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite. Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. “I’m thirsty,” he said. “Please give me some water.” She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up.

Sisera knew that he must never go into a woman’s tent without her husband being there. He can be killed. On the other hand, Jael invited him to go inside the tent. Jael was ready to commit a murder after having offered hospitality to him. Jael received an honor by killing Sisera. Deborah predicted the situation through divine knowledge. When Barak finally caught up with Sisera, Jael came out and showed him Sisera’s body.

It was misplaced trust on Sisera’s part. He took the risk to trust Jael. He disregarded the rule that any man must not enter a tent without the husband being there. He was deceived by Jael’s act of kindness and hospitality that resulted to his death.  

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