Barak

(flash of lightning) (Judg. 4:5 [as given]; Heb. 11:32) — a well-known Israelite, mentioned by St. Paul the Apostle among the ancient persons attested by faith. He was the son of Abinoam, of the tribe of Naphtali, and lived in Kedesh of Naphtali, a city of refuge and of the Levites, whose location was recently discovered by Robinson. Jabin, king of Hazor, who reigned in Hazor, at some distance further south of it, greatly oppressed the Israelites at that time, and, as it were in answer to their cries, by God’s command, the prophetess Deborah arose.

She lived under a palm tree on Mount Ephraim, near Jerusalem. Calling Barak to her and commanding him to go to Mount Tabor with ten thousand warriors, chosen from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun, she promised to deliver into his hand Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army. Barak set as a condition that Deborah accompany him into battle, and they met at Kedesh; then Barak, having gathered 10,000 warriors, suddenly attacked Sisera’s army and utterly defeated it. The victorious Israelites pursued the fleeing enemy as far as Harosheth of the Gentiles.

Sisera had hidden in the tent of Jael, wife of Heber, but was struck dead in the temple by her with a tent peg and a hammer. This victory was celebrated in a song of thanksgiving by Deborah and Barak (Judg. 5). Over the course of, perhaps, several days, Barak broke the power of Jabin and put an end to the twenty years’ oppression of the Israelites by him.