Abinoam

Abinoam is the father of Barak, the Israelite commander who led the forces of Naphtali and Zebulun against Sisera during the period of the judges.

Father of Barak

Abinoam is known entirely through his son. When the prophetess Deborah summoned the general who would lead Israel against Sisera, she called "Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali" (Judg 4:6). The battle narrative maintains the patronymic: "And they told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to mount Tabor" (Judg 4:12).

The Song of Deborah, composed to celebrate the victory, preserves Abinoam's name a further two times. Its opening verse names the poets: "Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day" (Judg 5:1). Within the song itself, Barak is called to account by his own title of descent: "Arise, Barak, and capture your captives, you son of Abinoam" (Judg 5:12). Through these repeated references, Abinoam's name is woven into one of the oldest poetic texts in the biblical record, even though he himself plays no active role in the events.