A short Insight into Judges, Chapter 4 By Rabbi Nisson Dov Miller

As Devorah accompanies Barak on his trek to confront Sisra and his army, verse eleven innocently mentions that “Chever Hakeini had separated from Kayin, a descendant of the children of Chovav, Moshe’s father-in-law.” What is the pertinence of this fact to the upcoming battle of B'nei Yisroel against Sisra? The Malbim tells us, “It was from Hashem that Chever Hakeini separated from his brothers who lived in the Judean desert and pitched his tent near Kedesh – to be prepared for the day of the salvation.” Hashem had arranged this move so that Chever’s family, including Ya’el, lived in this area so that when the day arrived for Sisra to flee from Barak, Ya’el would be available to hide and eventually kill Sisra, the enemy of the Jewish people.