Judges 4:20

20 He said to her, "Stand at the entrance of the tent, and if anybody comes and asks you, "Is anyone here?' say, "No.' "

Judges 4:20 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 4:20

And he said unto her, stand in the door of the tent
This he said, not in an imperious way, as some think, but by entreaty:

and it shall be, when any man shall come and inquire of thee;
seeing her at the door, and where he desired she would stand to prevent their coming into the tent:

and say, is there any man here?
any besides what belongs to the family? or any of Sisera's army?

that thou shalt say, no;
there is no man; but to this she made no answer that is recorded.

Judges 4:20 In-Context

18 Jael came out to meet Sisera, and said to him, "Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; have no fear." So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.

19 Then he said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink; for I am thirsty." So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him.

20 He said to her, "Stand at the entrance of the tent, and if anybody comes and asks you, "Is anyone here?' say, "No.' "

21 But Jael wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, until it went down into the ground—he was lying fast asleep from weariness—and he died.

22 Then, as Barak came in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to meet him, and said to him, "Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking." So he went into her tent; and there was Sisera lying dead, with the tent peg in his temple.