Abstract
This article focuses on the role of Yael in Judges 4. It argues that Yael’s central position in the narrative is meant to shed light on Deborah's prophetic image. Yael is thus Deborah’s “hand” – an extension of Deborah who carries out her prophecy: “for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hand of a woman” (v. 9). Yael overshadows both Sisera and Barak. She controls both men; she decides who will be defeated and who will be victorious. Deborah’s prophecy does not refer merely to the identity of the killer but also to the way in which the woman achieves her victory. Yael confronts a strong warrior, a general; physically she is inferior to him; she uses her femininity to defeat him. "While sexuality is a featured element of the Deborah narrative, it is so exclusively with reference to the actions of Yael. Deborah, the focus of the story, is, to be sure, a womanly figure. But her role in the story is purely that of a woman of God. It is she who reveals the hand of God in "the hand of a woman".
Highlights
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The Deborah Narrative is unique in the Book of Judges
This is meant to clearly convey the idea that God alone is responsible for victory. She did not take part in the military campaign, and she was not a powerful charismatic saviour. In this short paper I wish to focus on the role of another woman in the story – that of Yael
Summary
The Deborah Narrative is unique in the Book of Judges. While the heroes of the Book are military leaders who save Israel from its enemies, the protagonist of Judges 4 is a woman who is not active in the battle against the Canaanites. Prophetess of God and not as a human heroine.[2] This is meant to clearly convey the idea that God alone is responsible for victory Being a woman, she did not take part in the military campaign, and she was not a powerful charismatic saviour. A more likely interpretation is that Deborah uttered a prophecy which was realized by Yael’s actions against Sisera in the last part of the narrative.[6] The advantage of this understanding is that Deborah’s words correspond perfectly to her character in the story. Yael is Deborah’s “hand” – an extension of Deborah who carries out her prophecy: “for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hand of a woman” Because Yael’s actions are predicted by Deborah, Schneider’s opinion that Yael is the heroine of the story
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