Meanwhile certain of the Kenites[187], who had separated from the rest of their tribe in the hill country of Judah (Judg. i. 16), and now dwelt under the oaks of Zaanaim[188] near Kedesh, informed Sisera of the sudden movement of Barak towards Tabor (Judg. iv. 11, 12). Thereupon, without delay he gathered all his forces, and encamped on the level plain of Esdraelon, between the friendly towns of Taanach and Megiddo[189], where he was also joined by other Canaanite chiefs anxious to quell the sudden insurrection (Judg. v. 3, 19). At length the heroic Deborah gave the encouraging command to Barak, _Up, for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand_. Probably long before it was light[190] the camp of Barak’s little army was struck, and the patriot tribes rapidly descending the winding mountain-path fell upon the hosts of Sisera and threw them into wild confusion. As they fled in utter dismay along the plain, not only the troops of Barak, but _the stars in their courses_ (Judg. v. 20), the elements of heaven, began to fight against the Canaanites. A furious storm of rain and hail[191] gathered from the east, and bursting right in their faces, rendered useless the bows of their archers[192], and swelled into a mighty torrent the rivulets, springs, and spongy marshes near Megiddo. Before long _the ancient torrent_ of the _Kishon_ (_twisted_ or _winding_) rose in its bed, and the plain became an impassable morass[193]. The chariots of Sisera were now utterly useless. The hoofs of the horses vainly plunging in the tenacious mud and swollen streams _were broken by means of their pransings_ (Judg. v. 22). The torrent of the Kishon, now rushing fast and furious, _swept them away_, and the strength of the Canaanites _was trodden down_. Stuck fast, entangled, overwhelmed they could not stand for a moment before the avenging Barak, and not a man made good his escape to the city of their great leader, _Harosheth of the Gentiles_, before their pursuers had smitten them with the edge of the sword (Judg. iv. 16). Meantime, while his mother and her attendants were vainly awaiting the return of his triumphal chariot (Judg. v. 28), Sisera himself fled away on foot to the friendly tribe of Heber the Kenite beneath the oaks of Zaanaim, where he hoped for safety from his remorseless pursuers. After a while he drew near the tent of Jael, Heber’s wife, and chieftainess of the tribe. She herself had descried him approaching, and went forth to meet him. _Turn in, my lord_, said she, _turn in to me, fear not_. And he turned in, and she covered him with a rug or blanket (Judg. iv. 18). Spent and weary, before he lay down, he asked for a little water to drink; but she gave him something better than water. She opened the skin bottle of milk, such as always stands by Arab tents, she brought forth butter, or “thick curdled milk” in a _lordly dish_[194], or the bowl used for illustrious strangers, and covered him again with the rug.