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Writer's pictureDr. Dilday

Judges 5:24: The Blessing of Jael

Verse 24:[1] Blessed above women shall (Judg. 4:17) Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, (Luke 1:28) blessed shall she be above women in the tent.


Blessed above women; celebrated, and praised, and endowed with all sorts of blessings more than they. But of this fact of Jael’s, see the notes on Judges 4:21.


[And let her be blessed in her tent, מִנָּשִׁ֥ים בָּאֹ֖הֶל תְּבֹרָֽךְ׃] Above women, or, more than woman (understanding, other [Piscator]) in the tent shall she be blessed (Munster, similarly Tigurinus, Montanus, Syriac): which is to say, On account of that which she did in the tent let this woman be praised. In a marvelous summary of just one word the killing of Sisera is noted, which happened, not in the field, but in a tent (Martyr). Or thus; The Israelites are commanded to pray all favorable things for her in the Tabernacles, that there might be nothing to disturb her home or family, seeing that she conducted herself so valiantly in her own tabernacle (Bonfrerius). Others: above women that dwell in tents (Tigurinus Notes, similarly Junius and Tremellius, Castalio, Drusius). Women, whom it is seemly to keep at home; not men, as the inhabitants of Meroz did (Junius). This pertains to the praise of women, that they remain at home, and do not go forth abroad: thence an honest matron is called οἰκουρὸς, a keeper at home;[2] and Venus is depicted sitting upon a tortoise, which is called a domiporta, one with its house on its back. On the other hand, by the Chaldeans a harlot is called יצאת ברא, one going forth abroad: and Solomon says of here, her feet abide not in her house.[3] She is called a woman in the tent, just as one is called a soldier in arms, that is, armed (Drusius).


In the tent; in her tent or habitation, in her house and family, and all her affairs; for she and hers dwelt in tents. The tent is here mentioned in allusion to the place where this fact was done.

[1] Hebrew: תְּבֹרַךְ֙ מִנָּשִׁ֔ים יָעֵ֕ל אֵ֖שֶׁת חֶ֣בֶר הַקֵּינִ֑י מִנָּשִׁ֥ים בָּאֹ֖הֶל תְּבֹרָֽךְ׃


[2] See Titus 2:5.


[3] Proverbs 7:11.

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Dr. Dilday
Dr. Dilday
Mar 15, 2018

Matthew Henry: 'Deborah here concludes this triumphant song...With the praises of Jael, her sister-heroine, whose valiant act had completed and crowned the victory. She had mentioned her before (Judges 5:6) as one that would have served her country if it had been in her power; now she applauds her as one that did serve it admirably well when it was in her power. Her poetry is finest and most florid here in the latter end of the song. How honourably does she speak of Jael (Judges 5:24), who preferred her peace with the God of Israel before her peace with the king of Canaan, and though not a native of Israel (for aught that appears) yet heartily espoused the caus…

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