Abinoam is a biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Judges, whose significance is defined almost entirely through his son, the military leader Barak. The name Abinoam means “father of pleasantness” or “my father is delight.”
The Father of Barak, Judge of Israel
Abinoam is consistently identified as the father of Barak, the man whom the prophetess and Judge Deborah called upon to deliver Israel from the Canaanite oppression under King Jabin.
- The Summons: Abinoam is first introduced when Deborah sends for his son to begin the campaign.”And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, 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?” (Judges 4:6, KJV).
- His Hometown: Abinoam was from Kedesh-naphtali, a city of refuge located in the tribal territory of Naphtali, in the northern part of Israel. This detail connects the family to the region that was suffering under Canaanite rule.
- The Victory Hymn: Following the miraculous defeat of Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, Abinoam is referenced once more in the triumphant “Song of Deborah and Barak.””Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam” (Judges 5:12, KJV).
Abinoam himself does not play an active, speaking role in the narrative. His mention serves to establish the identity and lineage of Barak, a key leader in the period of the Judges who was instrumental in bringing forty years of peace to the land of Israel.