| Barak - bāīrak International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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| (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 (Jdg
5:6, Jdg 5:7).
The fighting men in Israel were disarmed, a shield was not to be seen
nor a spear among forty thousand men (Jdg
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 Jdg 4:10
they were all drawn from Zebulun and Naphtali, whereas
Jdg 5:13-18 adds
Benjamin, Machir and Issachar to the list of faithful tribes - Barak,
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.
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Taken from: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia by James Orr, M.A., D.D., General Editor |
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