Judges 4:17

17 However Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Ya`el the wife of Hever the Keni; for there was shalom between Yavin the king of Hatzor and the house of Hever the Keni.

Judges 4:17 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 4:17

Howbeit, Sisera fled away on his feet
Got off, and made his escape

to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite;
before spoken of, ( Judges 4:11 ) ; and he made to that, because he might think himself safer in a tent than in a town; and especially in the tent of a woman, where he might imagine no search would be made; for women of note, in those times, had separate tents, see ( Genesis 24:67 ) ; and the rather he made his escape hither for a reason that follows:

for [there was] peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of
Heber the Kenite;
which Jabin might the more readily come into, because these were not Israelites, nor did they make any claim to the country, and lived only in tents, and attended their flocks, and were a quiet people, and not at all disposed to war; and it might be so ordered by the providence of God, as a rebuke to the Israelites for their sins, when those who were only proselytes kept close to the worship of God, and so enjoyed liberty, peace, and prosperity.

Judges 4:17 In-Context

15 The LORD confused Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, to Haroshet of the Goyim: and all the host of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; there was not a man left.
17 However Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Ya`el the wife of Hever the Keni; for there was shalom between Yavin the king of Hatzor and the house of Hever the Keni.
18 Ya`el went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; don't be afraid. He turned in to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.
19 He said to her, Please give me a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. She opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.