The song now turns to a more detailed account of what Jael did, but in a very poetic form.
He asked water and she gave him milk is literally “Water he asked, milk she gave.” This is a good example of the point-counterpoint rhythm so appreciated in Hebrew poetry. This shortened form, together with the placing of objects before verbs, represents a change in the normal word order. It thus draws special attention to what Sisera requested and what he received. There is irony here, and suspense as well, since the one about to be killed is given the treatment accorded a special guest (see comments on verse 4.19).
The pronoun He refers back to Sisera, even though the last-mentioned male is Jael’s husband, Heber. The name “Sisera” may replace this pronoun, if necessary (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). But in this poetic celebration of Israel’s victory, hearers will know without being told who is in view. Water renders the general Hebrew word for it. Though this word is plural in Hebrew, the normal form for drinking water should be used. Some translators may want to expand He asked water by saying “Sisera asked for water to drink,” but they must remember that this is poetry and in most languages brevity is appreciated.
In the clause and she gave him milk, the conjunction and is not present in the Hebrew text. In many languages such connectors will not be common in poetic texts. However, some may need to add the conjunction “but” here to mark the contrast. The Israelites had herds of animals, so milk was readily available. Though this could have been milk from a cow, it was most likely goat’s milk (see comments on verse 4.19).
She brought him curds in a lordly bowl is literally “in a bowl of nobles, she brought curds.” This line adds information about how Jael treated Sisera. Its details slow down the action and heighten the suspense before the climax of the song. The pronoun she refers to Jael, who brought curds instead of water. Curds is a form of curdled milk, a well-known food in many cultures around the world. Some translations use “cream” as a substitute here, but it is probably more accurate to render the Hebrew word here as “curds” or perhaps “yoghurt.” Milk products are known to induce sleep, so this may have been part of Jael’s strategy in trapping Sisera.
In a lordly bowl emphasizes Jael’s deception. She brought the curds in a bowl fit for nobles. Jael recognized the status of her visitor and treated him appropriately. Translators should not have a problem finding a word for bowl or “cup,” but of course, it should not be made out of a modern material such as plastic. At that time such containers for those in power were made of bronze, silver, or gold. For the Hebrew word rendered lordly, see the comments on verse 5.13, where it is translated “noble.” Lordly is an uncommon way of describing a bowl, so it might be better to render a lordly bowl as “a beautiful bowl” (Good News Translation) or “a fancy cup” (Contemporary English Version). Revised English Bible preserves the poetic language by saying “a bowl fit for a chieftain.”
Some translation models for this verse are:
• Sisera asked for water,
and Jael gave him milk.
She brought him curds
in a bowl fit for a king.
• Sisera asked Jael for water,
but she gave him milk.
In a magnificent cup,
she brought him curdled milk.
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .