John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali , etc.] So called to distinguish it from other places of the same name, this being in the tribe of Naphtali, and a city of refuge, ( Joshua 20:7); of which tribe and place Barak was, but who he and his father Abinoam were we have no other account; it seems clear from hence that he was not the husband of Deborah, as the Jews say, or they would have lived together; though, according to Ben Gersom, she lived separate from him, because of the spirit of prophecy that was upon her; however, in this mission and message to Barak she acted not as a private person, but as a judge in Israel, and as having and exercising public power and authority: and said unto him ; when come to her upon her summons: hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded : can any doubt be made of it? can Barak in the least question it, as if she should say? the interrogation carries in it a strong affirmation, that the Lord had commanded, and that he had commanded by her mouth: [saying], go and draw toward Mount Tabor ; a mountain on the border of Zebulun, and between the tribes of Issachar and Naphtali, and so lay very convenient for the inhabitants of these tribes to meet here; of which (see Gill on “ Joshua 19:22”); here Balak is directed to steer his course, and betake himself, and draw others with him by persuasive motives and arguments, urging the command of God by Deborah the prophetess, and the assurance given from the Lord by her of victory over their enemies, and deliverance from them; for otherwise the children of Israel were in great fear of Jabin, because of his large army, and iron chariots: and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali, and of the children of Zebulun ? which were near at hand, and were the tribes which perhaps were most oppressed, and therefore more easily to be persuaded to engage in this expedition; and the number of them is fixed, as being sufficient for this service, and whose hearts the Lord would engage in it, so that Barak would have little to do but to move it to them, and enforce it with proper arguments; and as they would willingly offer themselves, as it appears afterwards they did, he was at once to take them with him to Mount Tabor, on the top of which was a plain of twenty six furlongs or about three miles, as Josephus says, surrounded by a wall; though modern travellers make it much less, on which, however, he might draw up his army of ten thousand men, and muster and exercise them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4-9 - Deborah was a prophetess; one instructed in Divine knowledge by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. She judged Israel as God's mouth to them; correcting abuses, and redressing grievances. By God's direction she ordered Barak to raise an army, and engage Jabin's forces. Bara insisted much upon her presence. Deborah promised to go with him. Sh would not send him where she would not go herself. Those who in God' name call others to their duty, should be ready to assist them in it Barak values the satisfaction of his mind, and the good success of his enterprise, more than mere honour.
Original Hebrew ותשׁלח7971 ותקרא7121 לברק1301 בן1121 אבינעם42 מקדשׁ6943 נפתלי5321 ותאמר559 אליו413 הלא3808 צוה6680 יהוה3068 אלהי430 ישׂראל3478 לך1980 ומשׁכת4900 בהר2022 תבור8396 ולקחת3947 עמך5973 עשׂרת6235 אלפים505 אישׁ376 מבני1121 נפתלי5321 ומבני1121 זבלון׃2074
