Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

BARAK

(Heb. bārāq)

An Israelite military leader (Judg. 4:6-22; 5:1-12, 15), the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali. Barak (“lightning”) had a secondary role in the battle between the Israelite militia and the Canaanite army of King Jabin of Hazor and his general Sisera, as recorded in both prose (Judg. 4) and poetic (ch. 5) accounts. Barak accepted the commission of the prophet Deborah contingent upon her accompanying his troops (4:8). This has often erroneously been interpreted as cowardice; however, it was not unusual to seek assurance of divine support from a prophet or priest before entering battle. Even though Barak led the Israelite tribal militia in a battle which they won, the prose version emphasizes that it was divine intervention (4:15), as well as the actions of two women, Deborah (vv. 8-9) and Jael (vv. 12-22), which were decisive. In the poetic account Deborah and Barak are complementary partners, acting within their respective spheres as prophet and warrior (5:12).

The catalogue of heroes in Heb. 11:32 lists Barak (and omits Deborah). In extrabiblical sources, Barak has a larger role in the battle: according to Josephus (Ant. 5), he slew Jabin and razed Hazor; according to Pseudo-Philo (LAB 31.9), Barak beheads Sisera and sends the head to the Canaanite general’s mother.

Gregory Mobley

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

BARAK

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)