The total collapse of the Canaanite military machine is captured perfectly in the desperate escape of its supreme commander. Stripped of his power and unable to lead his forces, he is reduced to running for his life on foot. Rather than retreating with the remnants of his army, he realizes that following them would mean certain capture by the pursuing Israelite forces. To survive, he alters his route, seeking a hiding place relatively close to the battlefield where he can remain unnoticed until the immediate danger passes [רד״ק].
His path leads him directly toward the tent of Jael [מצודת דוד]. This destination is a calculated political move. A peace agreement existed between the Canaanite king and the family of Heber the Kenite, leading the fleeing general to believe he would find safe harbor there [מצודת דוד]. The exact nature of this alliance is debated. It may have been nothing more than a cold peace [ביאור שטיינזלץ], or perhaps Heber the Kenite was actually a subservient vassal to the Canaanite leadership [אברבנאל].
Relying on this alliance raises a significant political question regarding how Jael could justify breaking the treaty to kill a man seeking asylum. Several explanations clarify her actions. The original peace agreement was forged with the Kenites living in the southern desert. Once Heber separated from his extended family and migrated north, his personal obligation to uphold that treaty ended [מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, his family had become deeply integrated into the Israelite nation. This bond was so strong that it is unclear whether Jael herself was of Kenite or Israelite descent [ביאור שטיינזלץ], making it entirely natural for her to fight on behalf of Israel and God [מלבי״ם]. Another perspective suggests that the general intentionally sought refuge in a woman's tent because women were exempt from formal political pacts. Consequently, Jael was never legally bound by her husband's agreements [מלבי״ם].
The detail of his escape on foot serves as a crucial element for the events that follow. The grueling run left him physically drained and completely exhausted. This profound fatigue is what ultimately caused him to fall into the heavy sleep from which he would never wake up [אברבנאל].