Judges Chapter 4 verse 17 Holy Bible

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) Fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael.--In a different direction from that taken by his army, which fled towards Harosheth (Kimchi). The expression is probably used by anticipation. He could hardly have meant to fly to Jael rather than to Heber, until Jael came to meet him, unless there are circumstances unknown to us. Women had separate tents (Genesis 18:6), and these were regarded as inviolably secure. He thought that there he would lie unsuspected till the pursuers passed (comp. Genesis 24:67). The name Jael means "gazelle" (like Tabitha, Dorcas), "a fit name for a Bedouin's wife--especially for one whose family had come from the rocks of Engedi, the spring of the wild goat or chamois" (Stanley).For there was peace.--This enabled Sisera boldly to appeal to these nomads for dakheel--the sacred duty of protection. A poor strolling Bedouin tribe might well be left by Jabin to its natural independence; tribute can only be secured from Fellahin--i.e., from settled tribes. Three days must have elapsed since the battle before it would be possible for Sisera to fly on foot from the Kishon to "the nomad's terebinth." It may well be conceived that the unfortunate general arrived there in miserable plight--a starving and ruined fugitive.Parallel Commentaries ...HebrewMeanwhile, Siseraוְסִֽיסְרָא֙ (wə·sî·sə·rā)Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularStrong's 5516: Sisera -- a general of the king of Hazor, also the father of some returning exileshad fledנָ֣ס (nās)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularStrong's 5127: To flit, vanish awayon footבְּרַגְלָ֔יו (bə·raḡ·lāw)Preposition-b | Noun - fdc | third person masculine singularStrong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudendatoאֶל־ (’el-)PrepositionStrong's 413: Near, with, among, tothe tentאֹ֣הֶל (’ō·hel)Noun - masculine singular constructStrong's 168: A tentof Jael,יָעֵ֔ל (yā·‘êl)Noun - proper - feminine singularStrong's 3278: Jael -- a Canaanite womanthe wifeאֵ֖שֶּׁת‪‬‪‬ (’ê·šeṯ)Noun - feminine singular constructStrong's 802: Woman, wife, femaleof Heberחֶ֣בֶר (ḥe·ḇer)Noun - proper - masculine singularStrong's 2268: Heber -- a Kenite, also several Israelitesthe Kenite,הַקֵּינִ֑י (haq·qê·nî)Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularStrong's 7017: Kenite -- members of the tribe of Kenitesbecauseכִּ֣י (kî)ConjunctionStrong's 3588: A relative conjunctionthere was peaceשָׁל֗וֹם (šā·lō·wm)Noun - masculine singularStrong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peacebetweenבֵּ֚ין (bên)PrepositionStrong's 996: An interval, space betweenJabinיָבִ֣ין (yā·ḇîn)Noun - proper - masculine singularStrong's 2985: Jabin -- 'one who is intelligent', two Canaanite kingskingמֶֽלֶךְ־ (me·leḵ-)Noun - masculine singular constructStrong's 4428: A kingof Hazorחָצ֔וֹר (ḥā·ṣō·wr)Noun - proper - feminine singularStrong's 2674: Hazor -- the name of several places in Palestine, also one in Arabiaandוּבֵ֕ין (ū·ḇên)Conjunctive waw | PrepositionStrong's 996: An interval, space betweenthe houseבֵּ֖ית (bêṯ)Noun - masculine singular constructStrong's 1004: A houseof Heberחֶ֥בֶר (ḥe·ḇer)Noun - proper - masculine singularStrong's 2268: Heber -- a Kenite, also several Israelitesthe Kenite.הַקֵּינִֽי׃ (haq·qê·nî)Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularStrong's 7017: Kenite -- members of the tribe of KenitesJump to PreviousClan Hazor Heber House Howbeit However Jabin Jael Ja'el Kenite Ken'ite Peace Relations Sisera Sis'era Tent Wife