"CONTRADICTIONS" in the KING JAMES BIBLE - 03

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Judges 4:21; Judges 5:25-27: How Did Sisera Die?

In Judges 4:21, it says that Jael killed Sisera in his sleep, but

In Judges 5:25-27, he bowed, and fell down dead at her feet. Which is true?

1. Both accounts work together to tell the whole story. As in Genesis and throughout the bible, it is common to tell a story (Jud 4:21) and then to retell the story with more detail following (Judges 5:25-27), and even to go back over the parts you just mentioned, while telling it.

2. Putting this all together, it would seem probable that Sisera fell asleep, Jael drove the peg through his temples and into the ground as per chap 4. At that point, go to chap 5 and learn more detail that it was her right hand on the hammer (vs 26), and she smote his head off after piercing him through the temples.

3. Before this final action though, prior to him dying, and possibly prior to her driving the nail right into the ground (although it may have been into the ground when he awoke), in vs 27 more detail is added to the account which obviously occurred prior to his death and describes how he responded when she drove the peg/nail into his temples.

4. He awoke critically injured and arose to some position (although not necessarily to fully standing), bowed, fell, lay down, (obviously arose partially at least) bowed (probably lower) and fell down dead where he had bowed.

5. That's when Jael would have smote his head off - or possibly would have driven the peg right into the ground first (if that part hadn't already be done prior to his waking up) and then smote his head off.

6. In either case, that is where he was when he died (chap 4 - "so he died", and chap 5 - 'where he fell and died'.) He was fast asleep and weary when she did these things, but not fast asleep when he died. We must read about the detail in chap 5 before concluding with chap 4:21, "So he died".

7. It is very reasonable that Sisera had these several moments to live upon awaking in severe trauma. It is a true saying that chickens will run around with their heads cut off for a minute or so.

8. The accounts are very consistent. We need to approach God's word with a desire to know what he wants to say to us. The bible is a living book that can hide itself from those who approach it in defiance, and reveal itself to those who approach it in humility. We need to read the words carefully, and see how the various accounts fit together. They always do - and always with common-sense reason.

9. You can TRUST every word in God's Word, the King James Bible!