×
Friend,    With Purim right around the corner, Sefaria is busy preparing for the “Purim bump” — the increase in users who visit Sefaria to celebrate the holiday. Last year, more than 100,000 people visited the library or used the app to connect with the holiday or read along with Megillat Esther. This year we’re expecting even more.    To help with our text and tech preparations ahead of this busy time, a generous Jewish foundation is matching all gifts to the library up to $36,000.    Please give today to help us meet your learning needs!     
Yael was a figure in the book of Judges who lured Sisera, an enemy Canaanite general, into her tent. She put him to sleep by giving him warm milk and killed him by hammering a tent peg into his skull.
Notable Sources
All Sources
A
The Bravery of Yael
TANAKH
Yael's bravery and cunning in killing Sisera highlight her significant role in the deliverance of Israel. The Book of Judges recounts the period of Israelite history marked by cycles of sin, oppression, and redemption, featuring leaders like Yael who played pivotal roles.
Yael's Strategy
TALMUD
The rabbis offer a provocative interpretation of Yael’s actions with Sisera, suggesting she engaged in seven acts of intercourse to weaken him. In the Talmudic tractate Nazir, Rabbi Yoḥanan interprets the repetition of the phrase 'he sunk, he fell' in Judges 5:27 as referring to multiple acts of intercourse.
Yael's Righteous Deception
COMMENTARY
Yael's actions, which may include engaging in sexual intercourse with Sisera, were done with the intention of bringing redemption to Israel and were for the sake of Heaven, rather than being acts of adultery. The Tze'enah Ure'enah, a 16th-century Yiddish commentary on the Torah and Haftarot, provides a unique perspective on the story of Yael and Sisera from the Book of Judges.
Yael's Strategy
COMMENTARY
Yael's cunning use of curds and milk to confuse Sisera is a fascinating detail that highlights her strategic brilliance. Radak, a renowned 12th-century biblical commentator, provides linguistic and contextual insights into the Song of Deborah in the Book of Judges.
God's Unconventional Deliverance
COMMENTARY
Victory ultimately comes from God alone, as demonstrated by the unusual circumstances of the triumph in the story of Deborah and Barak. The Book of Judges, chapters 4-5, recounts how Deborah, a prophetess and judge, leads Israel to victory with Barak, and how Yael, a noncombatant woman, kills the enemy general Sisera.
Unmatched Heroism of Yael
MIDRASH
Yael's actions in saving Israel are considered even more significant than those of the revered matriarchs and women of the wilderness. The early medieval midrash Bereshit Rabbah offers a deep dive into the significance of Yael's heroism and its impact on the survival of Israel.
Jael Slaying Sisera, Carlo Maratti (Italian, 1625–1713 Rome)
Jael Slaying Sisera, Carlo Maratti (Italian, 1625–1713 Rome)
We use cookies to give you the best experience possible on our site. Click OK to continue using Sefaria. Learn More.OKאנחנו משתמשים ב"עוגיות" כדי לתת למשתמשים את חוויית השימוש הטובה ביותר.קראו עוד בנושאלחצו כאן לאישור