Barak (Judges 4:4–7; Judges 4:8–9; Judges 4:10; Judges 4:12–13; Judges 4:14–16; Judges 4:17–22; Judges 4:23–24; Judges 5:1; Judges 5:12; Judges 5:15; Judges 5:31; Hebrews 11:32–33)

Son of Abinoam, called out of Kedesh-naphtali

The son of Abinoam, whom Deborah sent and called out of Kedesh-naphtali with the command of the LORD, who said he would go only if she went with him, called Zebulun and Naphtali together, went down from Mount Tabor, pursued Sisera's host, and sang with Deborah.

Judges names him only in the days when the LORD had sold Israel into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, whose captain was Sisera. Deborah, a prophetess who judged Israel, “sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali” (Judges 4:6) and asked him, “Hath not Jehovah, the God of Israel, commanded, saying, Go and draw unto mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men … ?” (Judges 4:6). Barak answered, “If thou wilt go with me, then I will go; but if thou wilt not go with me, I will not go” (Judges 4:8). She said she would surely go, but that “the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor; for Jehovah will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman” (Judges 4:9).

Barak “called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh; and there went up ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him” (Judges 4:10). When Sisera gathered his chariots to the river Kishon, Deborah said, “Up; for this is the day in which Jehovah hath delivered Sisera into thy hand” (Judges 4:14), and “Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him” (Judges 4:14). “Jehovah discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak” (Judges 4:15), and Barak pursued the host to Harosheth of the Gentiles. As he pursued Sisera, Jael “came out to meet him” (Judges 4:22) and showed him Sisera lying dead (Judges 4:22).

“Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day” (Judges 5:1), and the song calls, “Arise, Barak, and lead away thy captives, thou son of Abinoam” (Judges 5:12). Scripture does not record his death. The New Testament names him once, among those the time would fail to tell of: “Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms” (Hebrews 11:32-33).

Strengths

• Obeyed the call to go down
• Through faith subdued kingdoms
• Sang praise to the LORD

Weaknesses

• Would not go unless Deborah went with him

Themes

• Called by Deborah
• The command of the LORD
• Sisera sold into a woman's hand
• Victory at the Kishon
• Song of praise

Called out of Kedesh-naphtali (Judges 4:4–7)

Deborah, a prophetess who judges Israel, sends and calls Barak and gives him the command of the LORD to take ten thousand men to Mount Tabor, with the promise that Sisera will be delivered into his hand.

If thou wilt go with me (Judges 4:8–9)

Barak says he will go only if Deborah goes with him; she agrees, tells him the journey will not be for his honor because the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman, and goes with him to Kedesh.

If thou wilt go with me

“And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go; but if thou wilt not go with me, I will not go” (Judges 4:8).

“And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding, the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor; for Jehovah will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh” (Judges 4:9).

Musters Zebulun and Naphtali (Judges 4:10–13)

Barak calls Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh and ten thousand men go up at his feet; Sisera is told that Barak has gone up to Mount Tabor and gathers his nine hundred chariots of iron to the river Kishon.

Down from Tabor to the Kishon (Judges 4:14–16)

At Deborah's word Barak goes down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men after him; the LORD discomfits Sisera and his host before Barak, and Barak pursues them to Harosheth of the Gentiles.

Down from Tabor to the Kishon

“And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which Jehovah hath delivered Sisera into thy hand; is not Jehovah gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him” (Judges 4:14).

“And Jehovah discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot, and fled away on his feet” (Judges 4:15).

“But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; there was not a man left” (Judges 4:16).

Jael shows him Sisera dead (Judges 4:17–24)

Sisera has fled on foot to the tent of Jael and been slain by her; as Barak pursues him, Jael comes out to meet him and shows him the man he seeks, lying dead, and God subdues Jabin that day.

Jael shows him Sisera dead

Sisera “fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite” (Judges 4:17), and there Jael “smote the pin into his temples” (Judges 4:21) while he slept (Judges 4:21). Barak is not named in that scene.

“And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest. And he came unto her; and, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the tent-pin was in his temples” (Judges 4:22).

“So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel” (Judges 4:23).

The song of Deborah and Barak (Judges 5:1–31)

Deborah and Barak sing on that day; the song calls Barak to arise and lead away his captives, says of Issachar that as was Issachar so was Barak, and ends with the land at rest forty years.

The song of Deborah and Barak

“Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,” (Judges 5:1).

The song calls to them both: “Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song: Arise, Barak, and lead away thy captives, thou son of Abinoam” (Judges 5:12). Of the tribes it says, “As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed forth at his feet” (Judges 5:15).

“So let all thine enemies perish, O Jehovah: But let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years” (Judges 5:31).

Named in Hebrews (Hebrews 11:32–33)

Hebrews names Barak between Gideon and Samson among those the time would fail to tell of, who through faith subdued kingdoms.

Deborah (Judges 4:6–10; Judges 4:14; Judges 5:1)

She sent and called him, went up with him to Kedesh, told him the day had come, and sang with him.

The LORD (Judges 4:6; Judges 4:14–15)

His command came to Barak through Deborah, and he discomfited Sisera and his host before Barak.

Sisera (Judges 4:12–16; Judges 4:22)

Captain of Jabin's host, who gathered his chariots to the Kishon when told Barak had gone up to Tabor; Barak pursued his host and found him dead.

Jabin (Judges 4:2; Judges 4:23–24)

King of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor and oppressed Israel; God subdued him that day, and Israel's hand prevailed until they destroyed him.

Zebulun and Naphtali (Judges 4:6; Judges 4:10; Judges 4:14)

The ten thousand men he called together to Kedesh, who went up at his feet and after him from Tabor.

Jael (Judges 4:21–22)

The wife of Heber the Kenite, who slew Sisera and came out to meet Barak and show him the man he sought.

Abinoam (Judges 4:6; Judges 5:1)

Barak is called the son of Abinoam; Abinoam is named only in this way.

Major sections

• Judges 4–5
• Hebrews 11:32–33

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