שופטים, פרק ד׳, פסוק כ״א

The assassination of the Canaanite army commander Sisera by Yael is an act of immense resourcefulness, cunning, and careful planning. On the surface, her action raises a moral question, as it seemingly violates the peace treaty that existed between Jabin, king of Hazor, and the house of Heber the Kenite. Some explain that this treaty was only valid with the king himself, not with his military commander, or that Sisera was the first to betray the pact by causing her severe harm. However, the primary approach among commentators is that the peace agreement was originally forged purely out of fear. Because Sisera and his forces were enemies of God, Yael's action is considered a great Commandment worthy of blessing [חומת אנך].

Yael's choice of weaponry highlights her wisdom. She deliberately avoids taking a sword or a knife, knowing that if Sisera were to wake up and see her holding a traditional weapon, he would instantly suspect her intentions and kill her. Instead, she arms herself with a tent peg, a pointed stake used to stretch and anchor the tent to the ground, along with a heavy work hammer meant for driving pegs or chiseling stone. These everyday tools provide her with a natural excuse. If Sisera were to rouse from his sleep, she could simply claim she was doing routine maintenance to reinforce the tent [רש״י, רלב״ג, חומת אנך, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Approaching her target with absolute secrecy and in total silence to ensure he remains asleep [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון], Yael aims the peg directly at his temple. This area, located on the side of the forehead near the ear, has very little flesh and is relatively soft. Because it is so close to the brain, a strike there is instantly fatal [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. She drives the peg with such force that it completely penetrates his temple and lodges into the ground beneath him [מצודת ציון, רלב״ג, צאינה וראינה]. While most commentators describe Yael delivering a powerful physical blow with the hammer, an alternative view suggests she actually lacked the physical strength for such a forceful strike. According to this perspective, it was with God's help that the heavy peg sank on its own and pierced through to the earth [מלבי״ם].

The seasoned warrior's complete helplessness is the result of extreme exhaustion. Sisera had fallen into a profound slumber, heavily sedated by the milk he had consumed earlier and completely drained from the intense battle and his long escape on foot. This overwhelming fatigue stripped him of any remaining alertness or ability to defend himself. As a result, he felt nothing as the blow was struck and died instantly [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].