BARAK, Son of Abinoam, having been chosen by God to deliver the Hebrews out of that state of bondage, under which they had been held, by Jabin King of the Judg. iv. 4, 5, & seq.Canaanites; refused to obey the Lord’s orders, which were signified to him by Deborah the Prophetess. Go, says she, lead the Army to mount Tabor, take ten thousand men of the Tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, and at the river Kishon I will bring Sisera the general of Jabin’s Army, I will deliver him into your hands. Barak answered, if you will go with me, I will go, if not, I will not go. I will surely go, said Deborah, but the honour of the Victory will not be yours; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hands of a Woman. She meant either Jahel, who killed Sisera, or herself, who had the greatest share in the success of this expedition. Deborah therefore immediately departed, and marched with Barak towards Kedesh, the Capital of Naphtali; and having got together ten thousand men, they advanced towards mount Tabor.
Sisera having notice of it, gave orders for his Army to march, with nine hundred chariots of War, and incamped near the river Kishon. Then said Deborah to Barak, This is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hands. At the same time Barak descended from mount Tabor, and the Lord having spread terror through Sisera’s Army, Barak easily defeated it, and obtained a compleat Victory. Sisera disordered by his fears, left his chariot, that he might be swifter in his flight, and coming to the Tent of Heber the Kenite, was killed by Jael the Wife of Heber, as shall be more particularly related in another place. Barak in some little time after came to Jael’s Tent, who shewed him the body of Sisera dead upon the place. Thus was Israel delivered from the servitude of Jabin King of Hazor. Barak and Deborah hereupon composed an hymn of thanksgiving to the Lord, and the land continued in Judg. v.peace for forty years, from the year of the World 2719 to 2759, before J.C. 1241, before the vulgar Æra 1245.
Some have been of opinion1, that Barak was the Son of Deborah: others, that he was her Father; others again, that he was her Husband, and that Barak and Lapidoth are the same persons2. But S. Jerom maintains, that it is a great argument of ignorance to say, that Deborah was a Widow, and that Barak was her Son. It seems certain by the Text, that Deborah was married to Lapidoth, and that Barak had no relation to her.
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