In brief
Barak, son of Abinoam, from Kedesh in Naphtali, was the war leader who followed the judge Deborah in the days of the Judges. For twenty years Israel had suffered the oppression of Jabin, king of Canaan, and his commander Sisera. Through Deborah, the LORD ordered him to march on Mount Tabor with ten thousand men. Barak hesitated and asked for Deborah's presence, then obeyed, and the LORD routed Sisera. He then sang with Deborah. The lesson: a hesitant faith, yet honored by God.
What does the name Barak mean?
The name Barak is generally linked to the Hebrew word for lightning. The Bible gives no explanation of the name. The text specifies that he was the son of Abinoam and came from Kedesh-naphtali (Judges 4:6).
The world of Barak
Barak lives in the time of the Judges, when Israel, settled in Canaan, has no king yet. The book describes a repeating cycle: the people do what displeases Yahweh, God hands them over to an oppressor, the children of Israel cry out to him, and he raises up a deliverer. Here, after the death of Ehud (Judges 4:1), the people are handed over to Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigns at Hazor. The commander of his army, Sisera, lives at Harosheth Haggoyim, and Jabin has nine hundred iron chariots. The oppression lasts twenty years (Judges 4:2-3). The usual reckoning places these events around the twelfth century BC, but the Bible gives no date. Deborah, prophetess and judge, sits under a palm tree in the hill country of Ephraim, between Ramah and Bethel, and the children of Israel go up to her for judgment (Judges 4:4-5). Barak is a man of Kedesh in Naphtali, in the north of the country. His story unfolds between Mount Tabor, where he gathers ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun, and the river Kishon, where Sisera brings his chariots. Chapter 5 preserves a song of victory.
The story of Barak
Twenty years under Jabin and Sisera
Judges 4:1-3After Ehud's death the children of Israel again do what displeases Yahweh, who sells them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigns in Hazor. The commander of his army is Sisera, who lives at Harosheth Haggoyim. Jabin has nine hundred iron chariots and oppresses the children of Israel cruelly for twenty years. They then cry out to Yahweh. The song of Judges 5 describes this period: the highways were empty, and travelers took roundabout paths (Judges 5:6). Barak is not yet named in these verses, but it is in this distress that God will prepare the deliverance.
Deborah's call
Judges 4:4-7Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, is judge in Israel and sits under the palm tree that bears her name. She sends for Barak, son of Abinoam, from Kedesh in Naphtali, and reminds him that Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given a command. Barak is to go to Mount Tabor and take with him ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and Zebulun. Yahweh announces that he will draw to him, at the river Kishon, Sisera, commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his troops, and that he will give him into his hand. The command is precise, and the victory is promised before the fighting.
Barak wants Deborah to come
Judges 4:8-10Barak answers Deborah: if you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go. She agrees to accompany him, but tells him that he will have no glory on the road he is taking, for Yahweh will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. Deborah rises and goes with Barak to Kedesh. Barak summons Zebulun and Naphtali, ten thousand men follow him, and Deborah goes up with him. The text does not give the reason for his request, but it shows that his obedience is real, even if it first comes with a condition.
The two armies gather
Judges 4:11-13The account then mentions Heber the Kenite, who has separated from the other Kenites, the sons of Hobab, Moses' father-in-law, and has pitched his tent near Kedesh. Sisera is told that Barak, son of Abinoam, has gone up to Mount Tabor. From Harosheth Haggoyim, Sisera gathers all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the people with him, to the river Kishon. So, as Yahweh had said, the enemy commander comes himself to the announced place. On one side, ten thousand men on a mountain; on the other, an army equipped with iron chariots massing at the river.
The descent from Mount Tabor
Judges 4:14-16Deborah tells Barak to rise, for this is the day when Yahweh gives Sisera into his hand: has Yahweh not gone out before him? Barak goes down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men behind him. Yahweh routs Sisera, all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak. Sisera steps down from his chariot and flees on foot. Barak pursues the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth Haggoyim, and all Sisera's army falls by the edge of the sword, until not a man is left. The text credits the rout to Yahweh before speaking of the pursuit led by Barak.
Sisera and Jael
Judges 4:17-24Sisera flees on foot to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, because there is peace between Jabin and the house of Heber. Jael welcomes him, gives him milk to drink and covers him. He asks her to say that no one is here if anyone comes asking. While he sleeps, deeply exhausted, Jael drives a tent peg through his temple, and he dies. When Barak arrives in pursuit of Sisera, Jael goes out to meet him and shows him the man he is seeking, lying dead. On that day God subdues Jabin, king of Canaan, before the children of Israel, until they have destroyed him.
The song: the tribes that answered
Judges 5:1-18On that day Deborah sings with Barak, son of Abinoam. The song begins with praise: leaders took the lead in Israel, the people offered themselves willingly, bless Yahweh. It recalls the time when Israel chose new gods and neither shield nor spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. Then it calls on Deborah and Barak to rise. The song names the tribes that answered: Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir, Zebulun, Issachar and Naphtali. It reproaches others for their absence: Reuben stays among the sheepfolds, Gilead beyond the Jordan, Dan with its ships, Asher by its harbors.
The song: victory and praise
Judges 5:19-31The rest of the song describes the battle. The kings of Canaan fight at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo, and carry off no spoil. From heaven the stars fight against Sisera, and the river Kishon sweeps the enemies away. Meroz is cursed, for its people did not come to the help of Yahweh. Jael is blessed above women. The song then shows Sisera's mother looking out of the window and wondering why her son's chariot is so slow, reassuring herself with the thought of spoil. It ends with a prayer: so may all Yahweh's enemies perish, and may those who love him be like the sun when it rises in its strength. The land had rest for forty years.
Barak among the believers
Hebrews 11:32-34The New Testament names Barak only once. In the list of faith in Hebrews 11, the author says that time would fail him to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets. He adds that through faith these men conquered kingdoms, became mighty in war and put foreign armies to flight. Barak thus stands among those whom God remembers as examples of faith. This agrees with the account in Judges 4: Barak's hesitation is noted there, but it is his obedience that leads Israel to victory.
Barak's family
- father
- Abinoam Judges 4:6
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What Barak teaches us
- When God speaks clearly, we should obey without setting conditions: Barak hesitated, although the LORD had already promised him victory.
- God honors an imperfect faith: despite Barak's hesitation, the LORD routed Sisera, and Hebrews 11:32 lists Barak among the believers.
- Victory comes from the LORD, not from numbers or equipment: facing nine hundred iron chariots, it was God who routed the enemy army.
- God uses very different people in the same victory: Deborah, Barak and Jael each played their part.
Key verses
Deborah passes on the LORD's order to Barak: march on Mount Tabor with ten thousand men. God promises to draw Sisera to the river Kishon and to deliver him into his hands.
Deborah tells Barak to rise up, for the LORD goes before him. Barak comes down from Mount Tabor, and it is the LORD who routs Sisera, all his chariots and the whole camp.
The author of Hebrews lists Barak among those who, by faith, became mighty in war and put foreign armies to flight. God remembers his faith, despite his hesitation.
Bible verses to meditate on
Sermons about Barak
Frequently asked questions
Who was Barak in the Bible?
Barak, son of Abinoam, was a man of Kedesh in Naphtali. Deborah, judge in Israel, called him to lead ten thousand men against Sisera, commander of the army of Jabin, king of Canaan. He obeyed after hesitating, and the LORD gave Israel the victory.
Why did Barak want Deborah to go with him?
The text does not give the reason for his request. Barak only says that he would go if Deborah came with him (Judges 4:8). Deborah agrees, but announces that the honor of the victory will go to a woman. The Bible does not say what Barak felt, so we should stay with the text.
Where is Barak's story found in the Bible?
The story of Barak is found in the book of Judges, in chapters 4 and 5. Chapter 4 tells of the battle against Sisera and his death at Jael's tent, and chapter 5 gives the song of Deborah and Barak. Barak is also mentioned in Hebrews 11:32.
Did Barak lack faith?
The text does not say so. Barak asks that Deborah go with him (Judges 4:8), and Deborah announces that the glory will not be his (Judges 4:9), which shows that his condition was not trivial. But the Bible records no direct reproach from Yahweh to Barak, and it later ranks him among the men of faith: Hebrews 11:32 names him beside Gideon, Samson, Jephthah and David. He obeys, summons the tribes, goes down from Mount Tabor and pursues the army (Judges 4:10,14-16). We can take from this that a faith that hesitates but obeys is received by God. It is better not to guess what Barak had in his heart, since the text says nothing about it.
Who is the woman who gets the glory, Deborah or Jael?
Deborah announces to Barak that Yahweh will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman (Judges 4:9). The account then shows that it is Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, who kills Sisera in her tent with a peg (Judges 4:21). The song of Judges 5 blesses her above women in tents (Judges 5:24). Deborah, for her part, is the prophetess and judge who passes on the word of Yahweh and goes with Barak to Kedesh, then into battle (Judges 4:9-10,14). The song also recalls that she arose as a mother in Israel (Judges 5:7). Two women therefore play a part, one through the word of God and her courage among the people, the other through a decisive act against the enemy commander. In both cases the victory is presented as coming from Yahweh.
How many chariots did Sisera have, and how could Israel win?
Sisera gathers at the river Kishon nine hundred iron chariots and all the people with him (Judges 4:13), while Barak has only ten thousand men, from Naphtali and Zebulun (Judges 4:6,10). The account gives the reason for the victory: Yahweh routs Sisera, all his chariots and all the army (Judges 4:15). The song adds that from heaven they fought, that the stars fought against Sisera, and that the river Kishon swept the enemies away (Judges 5:20-21). The Bible does not describe the course of the battle further. It insists on one point: Israel did not win by its own weapons, but because Yahweh went out before Barak (Judges 4:14).
Which tribes followed Barak, and which stayed home?
Barak first summons Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh (Judges 4:10). The song names in addition Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir and Issachar among those who came (Judges 5:14-15), and says that Zebulun and Naphtali risked their lives on the heights (Judges 5:18). It reproaches Reuben for staying among the sheepfolds, Gilead for not leaving its home beyond the Jordan, and Dan and Asher for keeping to the ships and their harbors (Judges 5:15-17). It also curses the people of Meroz, who did not come to the help of Yahweh (Judges 5:23). The song thus shows that the victory was shared, and that it revealed hearts: some came, others stayed out of it.
What is the song of Deborah and Barak?
It is a victory song, in chapter 5 of the book of Judges, which opens by saying that on that day Deborah sang this song with Barak, son of Abinoam (Judges 5:1). The text does not say who composed it, but it attributes it to Deborah and Barak together. The song blesses Yahweh for the leaders and the people who offered themselves for battle, recalls his coming from Seir (Judges 5:4), praises Jael, describes the waiting of Sisera's mother and ends with a prayer. It completes the prose account of chapter 4 with details the latter does not give: the tribes that came or stayed home, the stars that fight, the river Kishon. It thus serves as a memorial of the victory and as praise to Yahweh.
What becomes of Barak after the victory?
The Bible says almost nothing. After Sisera's death Barak sings with Deborah (Judges 5:1), and then chapter 5 concludes by saying that the land had rest for forty years (Judges 5:31). Barak is not named again in the book of Judges after this chapter. Unlike other deliverers, the text does not say that he judged Israel, and it speaks neither of his death nor of his descendants. The only other passage that mentions him is Hebrews 11:32, which ranks him among the men of faith. We should keep to that: any longer story would rest on traditions the text does not confirm. This silence is a reminder that what matters in the book of Judges is Yahweh's faithfulness to his people more than the fate of the deliverer.