Judge living before Israel's Monarchy
Barak, son of Abinoam, led the Israelites to victory against Canaanite forces under Deborah's leadership.
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Also known as Bedan
Barak was an Israelite commander from the tribe of Naphtali who played a significant role in the victory over the Canaanite forces led by Sisera (Judges 4). Deborah, a prophetess and judge of Israel, summoned Barak and instructed him to gather troops from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun to fight against Sisera's army. Barak agreed to go only if Deborah accompanied him, to which she consented but prophesied that the honor of the victory would go to a woman. Barak led the Israelite forces to Mount Tabor, where they decisively defeated Sisera's army. The victory was celebrated in the Song of Deborah and Barak (Judges 5), which praises their leadership and God's deliverance. Barak is later mentioned in 1Sa.12.11 as one of the deliverers sent by God to save Israel from their enemies. The New Testament also commends Barak's faith in Heb.11.32, listing him among the examples of those who through faith conquered kingdoms and administered justice.
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Lightning, the son of Abinoam (Judg. 4:6). At the summons of Deborah he made war against Jabin. She accompanied him into the battle, and gave the signal for the little army to make the attack; in which the host of Jabin was completely routed. The battle was fought (Judg. 4:16) in the plain of Jezreel (q.v.). This deliverance of Israel is commemorated in Judg. 5. Barak’s faith is commended (Heb. 11:32). “The character of Barak, though pious, does not seem to have been heroic. Like Gideon, and in a sense Samson, he is an illustration of the words in Heb. 11:34, ’Out of weakness were made strong.’” (See DEBORAH.)
(lightning), son of Abinoam of Kedesh, a refuge city in Mount Naphtali, was incited by Deborah, a prophetess of Ephraim, to deliver Israel from the yolk of Jabin. Judges 4. He utterly routed the Canaanites int eh plain of Jezreel (Esdraelon). (B.C. 1291-1251.)
BA'RAK (lightning) was the son of Abinoam, and was distinguished for his share in the conquest of Sisera and the deliverance of Israel from long and severe oppression. A history of the transaction and a copy of their sublime triumphal song are given in Jud 4:1-5:31. Barak's date cannot be determined, but probably he was a contemporary of Shamgar. See Deborah.
BA'RAK (lightning) was the son of Abinoam, and was distinguished for his share in the conquest of Sisera and the deliverance of Israel from long and severe oppression. A history of the transaction and a copy of their sublime triumphal song are given in Jud 4:1-5:31. Barak's date cannot be determined, but probably he was a contemporary of Shamgar. See Deborah.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
14 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H1301
She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Surely the LORD, the God of Israel, is commanding you: ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, taking with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun.
Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”
“I will certainly go with you,” Deborah replied, “but the road you are taking will bring you no honor, because the LORD will be selling Sisera into the hand of a woman.” So Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh,
where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.
When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up Mount Tabor,
Then Deborah said to Barak, “Arise, for this is the day that the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone before you?” So Barak came down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.
And in front of him the LORD routed with the sword Sisera, all his charioteers, and all his army. Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot.
Then Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and the whole army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a single man was left.
When Barak arrived in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to greet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man you are seeking.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera dead, with a tent peg through his temple.
On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
‘Awake, awake, O Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, O Barak, and take hold of your captives, O son of Abinoam!’
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.
So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely.
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.