Barak

the commander on Mount Tabor

Who was Barak?

Son of Abinoam, from Kedesh of Naphtali. The prophetess Deborah called him in the Lord’s name. Judges 4:6
He told Deborah he would go to battle only if she went with him, and Deborah went. Judges 4:8-9
He came down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men, and the Lord threw Sisera’s army into confusion. Judges 4:14-15

From: Kedesh of Naphtali Judges 4:6
Occupation: He led the army of Israel against Sisera Judges 4:10, 14

What the Bible says

Judges 4:6

And she sent and called Barac the son of Abinoem out of Cedes in Nephtali: and she said to him: The Lord God of Israel hath commanded thee: Go, and lead an army to mount Thabor, and thou shalt take with thee ten thousand fighting men of the children of Nephtali, and of the children of Zabulon:

Judges 4:8-9

⁸And Barac said to her: If thou wilt come with me, I will go: if thou wilt not come with me, I will not go. ⁹She said to him: I will go indeed with thee, but at this time the victory shall not be attributed to thee, because Sisara shall be delivered into the hand of a woman. Debbora therefore arose, and went with Barac to Cedes.

Judges 4:14-15

¹⁴And Debbora said to Barac: Arise, for this is the day wherein the Lord hath delivered Sisara into thy hands: behold he is thy leader. And Barac went down from mount Thabor, and ten thousand fighting men with him. ¹⁵And the Lord struck a terror into Sisara, and all his chariots, and all his multitude, with the edge of the sword, at the sight of Barac, insomuch that Sisara leaping down from off his chariot, fled away on foot.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Barak

Before Jesus. The prophetess Deborah sent for him at Kedesh of Naphtali. Judges 4:6
Before Jesus. Those were hard times. Jabin, king of Canaan, had oppressed Israel for twenty years. Sisera was the commander of his army. Judges 4:2-3
Before Jesus. Deborah told him that the Lord commanded him to go up Mount Tabor. There the Lord would hand Sisera over to him. Judges 4:6-7
Before Jesus. Barak answered Deborah that he would only go if she went with him. Judges 4:8
With Jesus. Deborah went with him. But she told him that the Lord would hand Sisera over to a woman. Judges 4:9
With Jesus. At Kedesh, Barak gathered ten thousand men from Zebulun and Naphtali. Judges 4:10
With Jesus. Sisera learned that Barak had gone up Mount Tabor. He gathered his nine hundred chariots by the Wadi Kishon. Judges 4:12-13
With Jesus. Barak came down from Mount Tabor with his men, and the Lord threw Sisera, his chariots and his whole army into confusion. Judges 4:14-15
With Jesus. Barak chased the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth. Not one of Sisera’s soldiers was left. Judges 4:16
With Jesus. He chased Sisera and found him dead in Jael’s tent. Judges 4:22
Afterward. That day, God humbled Jabin before Israel. In time, the Israelites destroyed his power. Judges 4:23-24
Afterward. That day, Barak sang a song to the Lord with Deborah. Judges 5:1
Afterward. Much later, the prophet Samuel recalled the judges God sent to rescue Israel. The ancient Greek translation names Barak there; the Hebrew text says “Bedan,” and the Douay-Rheims “Badan.” 1 Samuel 12:11

Words of Barak

“If thou wilt come with me, I will go: if thou wilt not come with me, I will not go.” Judges 4:8

When Deborah gave him the Lord’s command.

What they were like

He asked for company: he accepted the Lord’s command if Deborah went with him. Judges 4:8
When Deborah told him it was the day, he came down the mountain with his men. Judges 4:14

The greatest thing they did

He led ten thousand men, and the Lord routed Sisera’s army. Judges 4:10, 15

Not to be confused with

Balak was the king of Moab who sent for Balaam to curse Israel. Barak was the leader who fought alongside Deborah. Numbers 22:4-6; Judges 4:6

What people ask

Why didn’t Barak want to go alone?

The Bible does not explain it. It only says that he asked Deborah to go with him. Judges 4:8

Who got the glory for the victory?

Deborah told him that Sisera would fall into the hands of a woman. It was Jael who killed him. Judges 4:9, 21

Does Barak appear in the New Testament?

Yes. The Letter to the Hebrews names him among those who lived by faith. Hebrews 11:32

Where was the battle?

Barak came down from Mount Tabor. Sisera was waiting with his chariots by the Wadi Kishon. The song says the Kishon swept the enemies away. Judges 4:13-14; Judges 5:21

What happened after the victory?

The Book of Judges says the land was at peace for forty years. Judges 5:31

Little known His father was named Abinoam. Judges 4:6 Sisera had nine hundred iron chariots. Judges 4:3, 13 The Letter to the Hebrews names him among those who lived by…

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Who Barak is connected to

Deborah · the prophetess and the commander
Jesus · witness of faith

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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