People of the Bible

Barak

Would not go without the prophetess, was told the glory would go elsewhere, and went.

Barak is summoned from Kedesh in Naphtali and given an order he has apparently already received: take ten thousand men to Mount Tabor, and Sisera with his chariots will be drawn out to the river. His answer is one sentence and it has been argued over ever since. If you will go with me, I will go; if you will not go with me, I will not go. Deborah goes. He takes the ten thousand down the mountain at her word, the chariots founder, and the army is destroyed to the last man except the one he was after.

Where it appearsJudges 4 to 5

Judges

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The movements, in the order the text gives them.

The story of Barak

01
Judges 4:6-7
Has not the LORD commanded you
The summons is not new information. Deborah repeats an order already given, with the place, the number and the outcome all specified in advance.
02
Judges 4:8-9
If you go, I will go
The condition is refused as a condition and granted anyway. She tells him the journey will not be for his honour, and the two of them go up to Kedesh together.
03
Judges 4:14-16
Down from Tabor
He takes ten thousand men down into a valley against nine hundred iron chariots. Not one of Sisera’s men is left, and the commander is on foot somewhere ahead of him.
04
Judges 5:12-18
Arise, Barak, lead your captivity captive
The song calls him by name and then turns to the roll of the tribes. Zebulun and Naphtali are praised for risking their lives; Reuben stays by the sheepfolds listening to the pipes.

Why it matters

The condition Barak sets costs him the credit and does not stop him obeying, and Scripture does both things with him: Judges makes clear the honour went to Jael, and Hebrews lists Barak among the faithful without qualification. He is a useful figure precisely because he is not the hero of his own chapter. He asked for a companion before he would move, and he still moved, and ten thousand men went down the hill behind him.

2 songs