Barak

Holy Barak, leader of the Israelites, was the son of Abinoam, a commander from the city of Kedesh, in the territory of the tribe of Naphtali (Judges 4:6). The Canaanite king Jabin, who reigned at Hazor, had oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. At God's command the prophetess Deborah rose against him and summoned Barak from the north to lead the Israelite levy and fight Sisera, commander of the united Canaanite armies (Judges 5:19). Barak made it a condition of his consent that Deborah accompany him. As a result the glory of the victor in this war went to Deborah, since Sisera was fated to perish by the hand of a woman.

Not all the tribes of Israel agreed to go out against the Canaanites. In the battle at Megiddo, under the leadership of Deborah and Barak, Israelites of the tribes of Benjamin, Issachar, Naphtali and Zebulun took part (Judges 5:16-17). The details of the victory over Sisera, when the waters of the brook Kishon made the Canaanite chariots useless, are sung in the Song of Deborah (Judges 5). Sisera's army was pursued as far as his home city, Harosheth-⁠ha-⁠goiim, and Sisera himself, as Deborah had foretold, was killed by Jael (Judges 4:15-21; 5:26). In Hebrews 11:32 Barak is named among those whose faith is attested in Holy Scripture, together with Gideon, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel.

He is commemorated on the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, that is, on 27 December (a movable date), in the new style.