Judges 4 · a question people ask
"If you will go with me, then I will go" (4:8). Was Barak short of faith?
The chapter doesn't say why he answered as he did, and it doesn't call it fear or faith. Deborah replies, "I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the journey that you take won’t be for your honor; for the LORD will sell Sisera into a woman’s hand" (4:9). Both readings below agree that Barak went (4:10), went down from Mount Tabor when Deborah told him to (4:14), and pursued Sisera's army (4:16), and that Hebrews names him: "the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets" (Hebrews 11:32). Christians read his answer in two main ways.
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
A condition, and the honor went elsewhere
Those who hold this view note that the LORD's command was "Go and lead the way to Mount Tabor" (4:6), and that Barak set a condition on it (4:8). They read Deborah's "Nevertheless" (4:9) as following from that condition, so that the honor of the day would not be his, and they note that when he arrives, Sisera already lies dead in Jael's tent (4:22).
Judges 4:6 · Judges 4:8-9 · Judges 4:22
Wanting the LORD's word at hand
Those who hold this view note that the LORD's command came to Barak through Deborah (4:6), and that it was she who told him when to go: "Go; for this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand" (4:14). They read his wish to have her with him as wanting that word beside him, and note that when she said it, he went: "So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him" (4:14).
Judges 4:6 · Judges 4:14
The verses
“Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” She said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the journey that you take won’t be for your honor; for the LORD will sell Sisera into a woman’s hand.” Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh. Ten thousand men followed him; and Deborah went up with him.”
“Deborah said to Barak, “Go; for this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Hasn’t the LORD gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.”
“But Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth of the Gentiles; and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword. There was not a man left.”
“What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets—”