Barak

From "the faith chapter" (see the Fact Finder question below) of the Bible:

"^11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: ^11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ^11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." (Hebrews 11:32-34 KJV)

"Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand"

Barak, from the Hebrew (pronounced) baw-rawk, meaning lightning or gleaming, as from a glittering sword (the word is used in other verses where it meant, and was translated as, "bright," "lightning," or "glittering"), was an Israelite military commander during the time of The Judges - when the Israelites often were subjected to defeats by their powerful enemies, as a punishment from the LORD i.e. "the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD" ... And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan."

"^4:1 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. ^4:2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. ^4:3 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel." (Judges 4:1-3 KJV)

When the time of the LORD's wrath was completed, He provided them with "deliverers" such as Barak who was called upon to assist Deborah, a "mother in Israel" (Judges 5:7 KJV) who was a prophet ("prophetess"), a judge and a military leader all at the same time - a rare combination, not only for a woman (Deborah is the only woman so-recorded), but for men as well (only Moses and Samuel are specifically recorded as such).

"^4:4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. ^4:5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. ^4:6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? ^4:7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

^4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

^4:9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. ^4:10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him." (Judges 4:4-10 KJV)

The Israelites were facing a powerful "mechanized" enemy that had "nine hundred chariots of iron," but when given the order to attack, Barak did so with faith that the LORD would assist the Israelites, which He did i.e. "the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak."

"^4:11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.

^4:12 And they showed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. ^4:13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.

^4:14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. ^4:15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. ^4:16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left." (Judges 4:11-16 KJV)

It was a rout; the enemy commander, Sisera, fled on foot. He sought sanctuary at "the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite," however Jael, Heber's wife, killed him while he slept. Her personal reason for doing it is not specifically stated, however resentment toward the domineering invasion forces of Sisera that made "peace" with their conquered people for twenty years, not only the Israelites but the Kenites as well, seems the primary rationality. The LORD's purpose for her doing it however may be "for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman" (Judges 4:9 KJV) - some regard that as meaning to Deborah, who Barak requested accompany the Israelites into battle, but it at the very least includes what Jael did.

"^4:17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.

^4:18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.

^4:19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

^4:20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.

^4:21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died." (Judges 4:17-21 KJV)

Barak's finding Sisera dead made the victory complete.

"^4:22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.

^4:23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. ^4:24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan." (Judges 4:22-24 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why has Hebrews 11 been called "the faith chapter" of the Bible?
See notes for Hebrews 11 in Hebrews 11-13