Deborah and Jael - 2 tough ladies of the Old Testament

Saint Pope John Paul II spoke of outstanding women in salvation history: "The Old Testament makes us admire some extraordinary women who, under the impulse of the Spirit of God, participate in the struggles and triumphs of Israel or contribute to its salvation" (Saint Pope John Paul II, 3/27/1996).  

Of women mentioned by the Holy Father in that article, I previously looked at Miriam. Next up are Deborah and Jael from Chapters 4 and 5 of Judges: 

"The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord....the Lord sold them into the power of the Canaanite king, Jabin....Jabin harshly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years."

The prophetess Deborah was judging Israel.  She advised Barak, the chief of the army: 

"This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands: Go, march against Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun.  I will draw Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, out to you at the Wadi Kishon, together with his chariots and troops, and I will deliver them into your power.”

Sisera did indeed go to the Wadi Kishon. As Barak requested, Deborah joined the Israelites, guaranteeing Israel's victory:

"The entire army of Sisera fell beneath the sword, not even one man surviving ....Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin, king of Hazor, and the family of Heber the Kenite.  Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, 'Turn aside, my lord, turn aside with me; do not be afraid.'"  

After settling in, Sisera asked Jael to stand guard so he could snooze:

"Jael, wife of Heber, got a tent peg and took a mallet in her hand. When Sisera was in a deep sleep from exhaustion, she approached him stealthily and drove the peg through his temple and down into the ground, and he died....at length they [the Israelites also] finished off the Canaanite king, Jabin....And the land was at rest for forty years."

In her subsequent celebratory song and praise of Jael, Deborah foreshadows Elizabeth's words "to Mary on the day of the Visitation: 'Blessed are you among women...' ( Lk 1, 42)"