Naravist

Person in the Old and New Testaments

Barak

Barak: summoned to the battle

Portrait of Barak. An AI-generated artistic interpretation, not a historical likeness.

Portrait: an AI-generated artistic interpretation, not evidence of how Barak looked.

Who Barak is

Barak, son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, is summoned by Deborah to gather ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun. Deborah announces that the Lord will draw Sisera's army to the Kishon and deliver it into his hand. Barak says he will go if Deborah goes with him. She agrees, while declaring that a woman will receive the honour concerning Sisera. Barak assembles the force and descends from Mount Tabor at Deborah's call. The Lord routs Sisera's army, which Barak pursues. Sisera escapes on foot, but Jael kills him and shows his body to Barak. Deborah and Barak share the singing in the next chapter.

Cited passages: Judges 4:6, Judges 4:7, Judges 4:8, Judges 4:9, Judges 4:10, Judges 4:12, Judges 4:13, Judges 4:14, Judges 4:15, Judges 4:16, Judges 4:21, Judges 4:22, Judges 5:1

Historical setting

The battle belongs to Israel's struggle against Jabin of Hazor and Sisera's chariot force after twenty years of oppression. Judges gives named places and participating tribes, rather than a calendar date for Barak's life. Later references require care: Hebrews explicitly names Barak among figures of faith, while 1 Samuel 12:11 reads Bedan in KJV and ASV and Barak in BBE. That difference should remain visible rather than supplying an additional episode or an unexplained second name in Barak's biography.

Cited passages: Judges 4:2, Judges 4:3, Judges 4:6, Judges 4:7, Judges 4:12, Judges 4:13, Judges 4:14, Judges 4:15, Judges 4:16, 1 Samuel 12:11, Hebrews 11:32

How the story is told

Barak's condition and Deborah's prediction prepare readers for a victory whose honour is shared beyond the battlefield commander. The narrative records what Barak says, without describing a private motive for his condition. His pursuit of the army and Jael's encounter with Sisera unfold along separate paths that meet when she shows him the dead commander. The song addresses Barak within its wider praise of willing leaders and people. Hebrews later places his name in a faith list; the collective deeds and sufferings that follow are not assigned one by one to every person named.

Cited passages: Judges 4:8, Judges 4:9, Judges 4:14, Judges 4:15, Judges 4:16, Judges 4:17, Judges 4:18, Judges 4:19, Judges 4:20, Judges 4:21, Judges 4:22, Judges 5:1, Judges 5:2, Judges 5:9, Judges 5:12, Hebrews 11:32, Hebrews 11:33, Hebrews 11:34, Hebrews 11:35, Hebrews 11:36, Hebrews 11:37, Hebrews 11:38, Hebrews 11:39, Hebrews 11:40

Story moments

  1. Called from Kedesh (Judges 4:6). Deborah summons Barak, son of Abinoam, and names the force he is to gather.
  2. A condition for going (Judges 4:8). Barak says he will go if Deborah accompanies him.
  3. Down from Mount Tabor (Judges 4:14). Barak descends with ten thousand men after Deborah's call to advance.
  4. Jael shows him Sisera (Judges 4:22). Barak arrives in pursuit, and Jael shows him the dead commander.
  5. Named among figures of faith (Hebrews 11:32). Hebrews includes Barak in its list alongside Gideon, Samson and Jephthah.

Key passages

Judges 4:6

And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

Judges 4:8

And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

Judges 4:9

And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Judges 4:10

And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

Judges 4:12

And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.

Judges 4:14

And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

King James Version. 14 indexed passages in total.

For reflection

Follow Barak's actions alongside Deborah's words and Jael's intervention. How does the full account shape your reading of his condition, his obedience in battle and the honour given to others?

Books Barak appears in

Related people

Names and references are adapted from STEPBible TIPNR. A person listed with a verse is named or indexed there; it does not mean they wrote or spoke it.