Two men named Heber appear in Scripture’s family lists, one among the sons of Asher’s son Beriah. The better-known Heber is a Kenite who “had severed himself from the Kenites” and pitched his tent near Kedesh (Judges 4:11). He was at peace with Jabin, king of Hazor, so the defeated captain Sisera fled to his wife’s tent, expecting safety. Heber himself says nothing in the story; it is his wife Jael who acts. Read Judges 4 for the whole account, and notice how a household’s quiet alliances end up mattering on the day of battle.
8 verses
And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel.
Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.
Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
And the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel, who is the father of Birzavith.
And Heber begat Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister.
And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,
Matthew George Easton, 1897
Passing over. (1.) Son of Beriah and grandson of Asher (Gen. 46:17; 1 Chr. 7:31, 32).
(2.) The Kenite (Judg. 4:11, 17; 5:24), a descendant of Hobab. His wife Jael received Sisera (q.v.) into her tent and then killed him.
(3.) 1 Chr. 4:18.
(4.) A Benjamite (1 Chr. 8:17).
(5.) A Gadite (5:13). (See EBER.)
William Smith, 1884
(alliance).
(1.) Grandson of the patriarch Asher, (Genesis 46:17; Numbers 26:45; 1 Chronicles 7:31) from whom came the Heberites. (Numbers 26:45)
(2.) The patriarch Eber. (Luke 3:35) [EBER]
(3.) The father of Socho; a Judite. (1 Chronicles 4:18)
(4.) A Benjamite. (1 Chronicles 8:17)
(5.) A Benjamite. (1 Chronicles 8:22)
(6.) A Gadite. (1 Chronicles 5:13)
(7.) The husband of Jael, who slew Sisera by driving a nail into his temple. (Judges 4:21,22)