Barak

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

("lightning".) So the family name of Hannibal was Barres, "the thunderbolt of war"; also Boanerges, "sons of thunder," applied to James and John. Son of Abinoam, of Kedesh, a refuge city of Naphtali. Incited by Deborah the prophetess to deliver Israel from the yoke of Jabin II, king of northern Canaan, of which Hazor, on lake Merom (now Hulah), was the capital. Hazor had been destroyed with Jabin I, its king, more than a century before, under Joshua; but owing to Israel's unfaithfulness had been permitted to be rebuilt, and a succeeding Jabin regained the possessions taken from his forefather. But his general Sisera, of Harosheth, inhabited by a race half Israelite half Gentile, where he had systematically and "mightily oppressed Israel" for 20 years, was defeated by Barak and Deborah at the head of 10,000 men of Naphtali and Zebulon ( Psalms 83:9-10).

This little army, aided by a providential storm in the enemy's face (according to Josephus), rushed down the hill of their encampment, Tabor, and routed Jabin's 900 iron chariots and unwieldy host in the plain of Jezreel (Esdraelon), "the battlefield of Palestine." The Kishon's impetuous current (especially that of Megiddo, its western branch), and the sandy soil (as Taanach means), contributed to the enemy's disaster, as their chariots were entangled, like Pharaoh's at the Red Sea. Harosheth was taken, Sisera slain by Heber's wife, Jabin's country taken, and a peace of 40 years secured. The triumphal ode of Deborah and Barak is very spirited (Judges 4; 5). Lord Hervey makes the narrative a repetition of  Joshua 11:1-12, from the sameness of names, Jabin and Hazor; the subordinate kings ( Judges 5:19;  Joshua 11:2, etc.); the locality; the chariots; "Mizrephoth Maim," burning by the waters; margin.

But if fancied chronological difficulties Judges be hereby removed, geographical difficulties are thus created; above all, the plain word God, which "cannot be broken" makes Jabin's oppression of Israel: Hazor to be "when Ehud was dead"; it is impossible then it can be identical with the narrative in Joshua. (See Judges .) The judges Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, and Barak, did not rule all their lives, but were raised up at intervals as need required. Jabin ("prudent") was probably a standing title of the kings of Hazor. Heretofore, foes without, Mesopotamia and Moab, had chastised Israel; but now their sin provokes God to raise an oppressor within their own borders, Canaan itself! Jabin seduced them into idolatry, besides oppressing them ( Judges 5:8). Barak is made an example of faith ( Hebrews 11:32), though it was weak; he was therefore deprived of the glory of stronger faith by a woman, Jael (compare  Judges 4:8).

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Son of Abinoam, of Naphtali. He was called by Deborah the prophetess (who judged Israel at that time) to collect from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulon 10,000 men that God might deliver into his hand Sisera, the captain of the army of Jabin, king of Canaan, who had 900 chariots of iron, and who had mightily oppressed the children of Israel twenty years. It required great faith to attack so strong an enemy with such a small force; and Barak had not this strong faith in God; he said he would not go unless Deborah would go with him. Deborah consented to go, but told Barak that it would not be to his honour; Sisera would fall by the hand of a woman. When the armies were face to face it was still Deborah that had to tell Barak when to arise to the attack.

Jehovah discomfited Sisera and his chariots and his host, by the swords of the Israelites, and apparently the overthrow was completed by a severe storm and the overflowing of the river Kishon.  Judges 4:6-17;  Judges 5:20,21 . The Canaanites being smitten, Sisera left his chariot and fled for refuge to the house of Heber the Kenite, where he was killed by Jael, Heber's wife.  Judges 4:18-24 .  Judges 5 : gives the song of Deborah and Barak over the victory. Barak's faith is like that of many who can follow if another will lead, though they cannot take a first place; it is very gracious of God to mention Barak in  Hebrews 11:32 as one in the cloud of witnesses who had become victorious by their faith.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

BARAK (‘lightning’). The son of Abinoam; he lived at a time when the Canaanite kingdom of Hazor, having recovered from its overthrow by Joshua (  Joshua 11:10-15 ), was taking vengeance by oppressing Israel. He is called from his home in Kedesh-naphtali by Deborah to deliver Israel. He gathers an army of 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. With this force, accompanied by Deborah, without whom he refuses to go forward, he encamps on Mt. Tabor, while the enemy under Sisera lies in the plain on the banks of the Kishon. At the word of Deborah, Barak leads his men down to battle, and completely defeats Sisera. The latter flees; Barak pursues him, but on reaching his hiding-place finds that he has been already slain by Jael, the wife of Heber. The glory of the victory, therefore, does not lie with Barak, but with Deborah, who was his guiding spirit, and with Jael who slew the enemy’s leader (  Judges 4:1-24;   Judges 5:1-31 ).

W. O. E. Oesterley.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

son of Abinoam, chosen by God to deliver the Hebrews from that bondage under which they were held by Jabin, king of the Canaanites,  Judges 4:4-5 , &c. He refused to obey the Lord's commands, signified to him by Deborah, the prophetess, unless she consented to go with him. Deborah accompanied Barak toward Kedesh of Naphtali; and, having assembled ten thousand men, they advanced to mount Tabor. Sisera, being informed of this movement, marched with nine hundred chariots of war, and encamped near the river Kishon. Barak rapidly descended from mount Tabor, and the Lord having spread terror through Sisera's army Barak easily obtained a complete victory. Sisera was killed by Jael. Barak and Deborah composed a hymn of thanksgiving; and the land had peace forty years from A.M. 2719 to 2759, B.C. 1245.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The son of Abinoam, of Kedesh in the tribe of Naphtali. God summoned him, by means of Deborah the prophetess, to release Israel from the yoke of Jabin king of Canaan. Having first secured the attendance of the prophetess, he gathered 10,000 men, and stationed them on Mount Tabor, perhaps to avoid the enemies' 900 chariots of iron,  Judges 4:3 . God fought for Israel in the battle, which ensued, and the song of Deborah and Barak,  Judges 5:1-31 chronicles their victory. The name of Barak is enrolled among those illustrious for faith,   Hebrews 12:29 .

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Barak (Βαράκ) was the ally of Deborah in the life-and-death struggle of Israel with the Canaanites. He won the great battle of Kishon ( Judges 4:5). He is named in the roll of the OT heroes of faith ( Hebrews 11:32). He was one of those who διὰ πίστεως ‘waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens’ (11:34).

James Strahan.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Barak ( Bâ'Rak ), Lightning. The son of Abinoan, who was appointed by" Deborah commander of the Hebrew forces. He so completely routed the Canaanitish forces, that they never recovered from the blow. As judge of the Hebrews, he was probably the colleague, or successor of Deborah.  Judges 4:4-24;  Judges 5:9;  Hebrews 11:32.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Judges 4:6 Judges 4:16 Judges 5 Hebrews 11:32 Hebrews 11:34Deborah

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ba'rak. (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 5. He utterly routed the Canaanites, in the plain of Jezreel (Esdraelon). (B.C. 1291-1251).

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

The son of Abinoam. We have his history,  Judges 4:1-24 and  Judges 5:1-31. His name signifies, thunder.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Judges 4:6 1 Samuel 12:11

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Barak', בָּרִק , Lightning; Sept. and N.T. Βαράκ , Joseph. Ant. v. 5, 2, Βάρακος ; comp. the family name of Hannibal, Barca = "lightning of war"), son of Abinoam of Kedesh-naphtali, a Galilean city of refuge in the tribe of Naphtali ( Judges 4:6, comp.  Joshua 19:37;  Joshua 21:32). He was summoned by the prophetess Deborah to take the field against the hostile army of the Canaanitish king Jabin (q.v.), commanded by Sisera (q.v.), with 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulon, and to encamp on Mount Tabor, probably because the 900 chariots of iron ( Judges 4:3), in which the main force of Sisera consisted, could not so easily manoeuvre on uneven ground. After some hesitation, he resolved to do her bidding, on condition that she would go with him which she readily promised. At a signal given by the prophetess, the little army, seizing the opportunity of a providential storm (Joseph. Ant. v. 4) and a wind that blew in the faces of the enemy, boldly rushed down the hill, and utterly routed the unwieldy host of the Canaanites in the plain of Jezreel (Esdraelon), "the battle-field of Palestine." From the prominent mention of Taanach ( Judges 5:19, "sandy soil") and of the river Kishon, it is most likely that the victory was partly due to the suddenly swollen waves of that impetuous torrent, particularly its western branch, called Megiddo. The victory was decisive, Harosheth taken ( Judges 4:16), Sisera murdered, and Jabin ruined. A peace of forty years ensued, and the next danger came from a different quarter. The victors composed a splendid epinician ode in commemoration of their deliverance (Judges 5). (See Deborah). Barak's faith is commended among the other worthies of the Old Test. in  Hebrews 11:32. (See Bene-Barak).

From the incidental date apparently given in  Judges 5:6, some have regarded Barak as a contemporary of Shamgar. If so, he could not have been so late as 178 years after Joshua, where he is generally placed, Lord A. Hervey supposes the narrative to be a repetition of  Joshua 11:1-12 ( Genealogies, p. 228 sq.). A great deal may be said for this view: the names Jabin and Hazor; the mention of subordinate kings ( Judges 5:19; comp.  Joshua 11:2 sq.); the general locality of the battle; the prominence of chariots in both narratives, and especially the name Misrephoth-maim, which seems to mean "burning by the waters," as in the margin of the A.V., and not "the flow of waters.'" Many chronological difficulties are also thus removed; but it is fair to add that, in Stanley's opinion (Palest. p. 392 note), there are geographical difficulties in the way (Ewald, Gesch. d. Volkes Israel; Thomson, Land and Book, 2:141 sq. There appears, therefore, on the whole, no good reason for departing from the regular order of the judges, which places his rule B.C. 1409-1369. (See Judges).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bā´rak ( בּרק , bārāḳ , "lightning flash"): The name occurs in Sabean ברקס , in Palmyrene ברק , and in Punic Barcas , as surname of Hamilcar; and as Divine name in Assyrian Ramman - Birḳu and Gibil - Birḳu (Del. Assyrian, HWB , 187). Barak was the son of Abinoam of Kedesh, a refuge city in Mt. Naphtali. He was summoned by the prophetess Deborah to lead his countrymen to war against the Canaanites under the leadership of Sisera. From the celebrated ode of Deborah we gather that Israel suffered at the hand of the enemy; the caravan roads were in danger, traffic almost ceased; the cultivated country was plundered ( Judges 5:6 ,  Judges 5:7 ). The fighting men in Israel were disarmed, a shield was not to be seen nor a spear among forty thousand men ( Judges 5:8 ). The prophetess raised the signal of struggle for independence. Soon Barak came to her aid. With an army of 10,000 men - according to  Judges 4:10 they were all drawn from Zebulun and Naphtali, whereas   Judges 5:13-18 adds Benjamin, Machir and Issachar to the list of faithful tribes - B arak, accompanied by Deborah, rushed to the summit of Mt. Tabor. This location was very favorable to the rudely armed Israelites in warding off the danger of the well-armed enemy. The wooded slopes protected them against the chariots of the Canaanites. In addition they were within striking distance should the enemy expose himself on the march. Under the heavy rainfall the alluvial plain became a morass, in which the heavy-armed troops found it impossible to move. Soon the little stream Kishon was filled with chariots, horses and Canaanites. Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot. Barak pursued him and found him murdered by Jael in her tent. This completed the victory. See Bedan; Moore, "Judges," at the place.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ba´rak, lightning; son of Abinoam of Kedesh-Naphtali, a Galilean city of refuge in the tribe of Naphthali ( Judges 4:6; comp.  Joshua 19:37;  Joshua 21:32). He was summoned by the prophetess Deborah to take the field against the hostile army of the Canaanitish king Jabin, commanded by Sisera, with 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphthali and Zebulon, and to encamp on Mount Tabor, probably because the 900 chariots of iron ( Judges 4:3), in which the main force of Sisera consisted, could not so easily maneuver on uneven ground. After some hesitation, he resolved to do her bidding, on condition that she would go with him, which she readily promised. Confiding, therefore, in the God of Israel, he attacked the hostile army by surprise, put them to flight, and routed them to the last man. In conjunction with Deborah, he afterwards composed a song of victory in commemoration of that event ( Judges 5:14-16).