Barak (son of Abinoam)

Israel's war general under Deborah

The judgesArmy commanderJudgeWarriorc. 1200–1100 BC

Barak was a military leader from Kedesh in Naphtali who led Israel's forces to victory over the army of Jabin, king of Canaan, commanded by Sisera. He acted in faith on the words of the prophetess Deborah, even though he insisted that she accompany him into battle. He is mentioned in Hebrews as an example of faith.

Family

FatherAbinoam (Barak's father)

Key events

The Call from Deborah

The prophetess Deborah called Barak and delivered the Lord's command to gather ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun to fight against Sisera.

Judg 4:6 Show in context →

6She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you: 'Go, march to Mount Tabor and take with you ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun.

וַתִּשְׁלַ֗ח וַתִּקְרָא֙ לְבָרָ֣ק בֶּן־אֲבִינֹ֔עַם מִקֶּ֖דֶשׁ נַפְתָּלִ֑י וַתֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו הֲלֹ֥א צִוָּ֣ה ׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֵ֤ךְ וּמָֽשַׁכְתָּ֙ בְּהַ֣ר תָּב֔וֹר וְלָקַחְתָּ֣ עִמְּךָ֗ עֲשֶׂ֤רֶת אֲלָפִים֙ אִ֔ישׁ מִבְּנֵ֥י נַפְתָּלִ֖י וּמִבְּנֵ֥י זְבֻלֽוּן׃ ‬

Judg 4:7 Show in context →

7I will draw out Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, to meet you at the Kishon River with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand.'"

וּמָשַׁכְתִּ֨י אֵלֶ֜יךָ אֶל־נַ֣חַל קִישׁ֗וֹן אֶת־סִֽיסְרָא֙ שַׂר־צְבָ֣א יָבִ֔ין וְאֶת־רִכְבּ֖וֹ וְאֶת־הֲמוֹנ֑וֹ וּנְתַתִּ֖יהוּ בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃ ‬

Barak's condition

Barak refused to go to war unless Deborah accompanied him, which led to the prophecy that the honor of victory would fall to a woman.

Judg 4:8 Show in context →

8Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go."

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ בָּרָ֔ק אִם־תֵּלְכִ֥י עִמִּ֖י וְהָלָ֑כְתִּי וְאִם־לֹ֥א תֵלְכִ֛י עִמִּ֖י לֹ֥א אֵלֵֽךְ׃ ‬

Judg 4:9 Show in context →

9"I will surely go with you," she said, "but the honor will not be yours on the road you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." So Deborah rose and went with Barak to Kedesh.

וַתֹּ֜אמֶר הָלֹ֧ךְ אֵלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֗ךְ אֶ֚פֶס כִּי֩ לֹ֨א תִֽהְיֶ֜ה תִּֽפְאַרְתְּךָ֗ עַל־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתָּ֣ה הוֹלֵ֔ךְ כִּ֣י בְֽיַד־אִשָּׁ֔ה יִמְכֹּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־סִֽיסְרָ֑א וַתָּ֧קָם דְּבוֹרָ֛ה וַתֵּ֥לֶך עִם־בָּרָ֖ק קֶֽדְשָׁה׃ ‬

Gathering of the Army

Barak gathered ten thousand men at the foot of Mount Tabor, as Deborah had commanded.

Judg 4:10 Show in context →

10Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh, and ten thousand men marched up behind him. Deborah went up with him as well.

וַיַּזְעֵ֨ק בָּרָ֜ק אֶת־זְבוּלֻ֤ן וְאֶת־נַפְתָּלִי֙ קֶ֔דְשָׁה וַיַּ֣עַל בְּרַגְלָ֔יו עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת אַלְפֵ֖י אִ֑ישׁ וַתַּ֥עַל עִמּ֖וֹ דְּבוֹרָֽה׃ ‬

Judg 4:12 Show in context →

12When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up Mount Tabor,

וַיַּגִּ֖דוּ לְסִֽיסְרָ֑א כִּ֥י עָלָ֛ה בָּרָ֥ק בֶּן־אֲבִינֹ֖עַם הַר־תָּבֽוֹר׃ ס ‬

Judg 4:14 Show in context →

14Then Deborah said to Barak, "Up! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone out before you?" So Barak charged down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men behind him.

וַתֹּאמֶר֩ דְּבֹרָ֨ה אֶל־בָּרָ֜ק ק֗וּם כִּ֣י זֶ֤ה הַיּוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁר֩ נָתַ֨ן יְהוָ֤ה אֶת־סִֽיסְרָא֙ בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ הֲלֹ֥א יְהוָ֖ה יָצָ֣א לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וַיֵּ֤רֶד בָּרָק֙ מֵהַ֣ר תָּב֔וֹר וַעֲשֶׂ֧רֶת אֲלָפִ֛ים אִ֖ישׁ אַחֲרָֽיו׃ ‬

Victory over Sisera

With the Lord's help, Barak led the army to a overwhelming victory by the Kishon River, where Sisera's chariots and his entire army were defeated.

Judg 4:15 Show in context →

15And the LORD routed Sisera and all the chariots and all the army by the edge of the sword before Barak. Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.

וַיָּ֣הָם יְ֠הוָה אֶת־סִֽיסְרָ֨א וְאֶת־כָּל־הָרֶ֧כֶב וְאֶת־כָּל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛ה לְפִי־חֶ֖רֶב לִפְנֵ֣י בָרָ֑ק וַיֵּ֧רֶד סִֽיסְרָ֛א מֵעַ֥ל הַמֶּרְכָּבָ֖ה וַיָּ֥נָס בְּרַגְלָֽיו׃ ‬

Judg 4:16 Show in context →

16Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and Sisera's whole army fell by the sword; not one man was left.

וּבָרָ֗ק רָדַ֞ף אַחֲרֵ֤י הָרֶ֙כֶב֙ וְאַחֲרֵ֣י הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה עַ֖ד חֲרֹ֣שֶׁת הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וַיִּפֹּ֞ל כָּל־מַחֲנֵ֤ה סִֽיסְרָא֙ לְפִי־חֶ֔רֶב לֹ֥א נִשְׁאַ֖ר עַד־אֶחָֽד׃ ‬

The Song of Deborah and Barak

After the victory, Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise together that honored the Lord for deliverance and described the battle in poetic form.

Judg 5:1 Show in context →

1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

וַתָּ֣שַׁר דְּבוֹרָ֔ה וּבָרָ֖ק בֶּן־אֲבִינֹ֑עַם בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לֵאמֹֽר׃ ‬

Judg 5:2 Show in context →

2When the leaders took the lead in Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves — bless the LORD!

בִּפְרֹ֤עַ פְּרָעוֹת֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּהִתְנַדֵּ֖ב עָ֑ם בָּרֲכ֖וּ יְהוָֽה׃ ‬

Judg 5:12 Show in context →

12Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break into song! Rise up, Barak, and lead away your captives, son of Abinoam!

עוּרִ֤י עוּרִי֙ דְּבוֹרָ֔ה ע֥וּרִי ע֖וּרִי דַּבְּרִי־שִׁ֑יר ק֥וּם בָּרָ֛ק וּֽשֲׁבֵ֥ה שֶׁבְיְךָ֖ בֶּן־אֲבִינֹֽעַם׃ ‬

Judg 5:15 Show in context →

15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; Issachar followed Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. But among the clans of Reuben there was deep searching of heart.

וְשָׂרַ֤י בְּיִשָּׂשכָר֙ עִם־דְּבֹרָ֔ה וְיִשָּׂשכָר֙ כֵּ֣ן בָּרָ֔ק בָּעֵ֖מֶק שֻׁלַּ֣ח בְּרַגְלָ֑יו בִּפְלַגּ֣וֹת רְאוּבֵ֔ן גְּדֹלִ֖ים חִקְקֵי־לֵֽב׃ ‬

Mentioned as an Example of Faith

In Hebrews, Barak is mentioned among the heroes of faith who by faith accomplished great things for God.

Heb 11:32 Show in context →

32And what more shall I say? Time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,

Καὶ τί ἔτι λέγω; ἐπιλείψει ⸂με γὰρ⸃ διηγούμενον ὁ χρόνος περὶ Γεδεών, Βαράκ, ⸀Σαμψών, Ἰεφθάε, Δαυίδ τε καὶ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν προφητῶν,

Mentioned in the Bible (13)

Judges 4:6 Judges 4:8 Judges 4:9 Judges 4:10 Judges 4:12 Judges 4:14 Judges 4:15 Judges 4:16 Judges 4:22 Judges 5:1 Judges 5:12 Judges 5:15 Hebrews 11:32