Editing Sisera (section)

==Biblical account==
According to the biblical book of [[Biblical Judges|Judges]], Jabin, King of Hazor, oppressed the [[Israelites]] for twenty years. His general was Sisera, who commanded nine hundred iron chariots from [[Harosheth Haggoyim]], a fortified cavalry base.<ref>{{bibleverse||Judges|4:2|NIV}}</ref> After the prophetess Deborah persuaded Barak to face Sisera in battle, they, with an Israelite force of ten thousand, defeated him at the [[Battle of Mount Tabor (biblical)|Battle of Mount Tabor]] at [[Jezreel Valley]]. Judges 5:20 says that "the stars in their courses fought against Sisera", and the following verse implies that the army was swept away by the [[Kishon River]].<ref>{{bibleverse||Judges|5:21|NIV}}</ref> Following the battle, there was peace for forty years.<ref>{{bibleverse||Judges|5:31|NIV}}</ref>

After the battle, Sisera fled on foot until he came to the campsite of [[Heber the Kenite]] in the plain of [[Zaanaim]], where he was received by [[Yael|Jael]], Heber's wife. Jael brought him into her tent with apparent [[Xenia (Greek)|hospitality]] and gave him milk. Jael promised to hide Sisera and covered him with a rug, but after he fell asleep, she drove a [[tent peg]] through his temple with a mallet, her blow being so forceful that the peg pinned his head to the ground.<ref>{{bibleverse||Judges|4:18–21|NIV}} and {{bibleverse||Judges|5:25–27|NIV}}.</ref>

Later, during his farewell address, the prophet [[Samuel]] referred to the Israelites' subjection to Sisera as a consequence of their "forgetting the LORD their God".<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Samuel|12:9|NKJV}}</ref>