War
Israel at its Exodus from Egypt went up "according to their armies," "harnessed," literally, "arranged in five divisions," van, center, two wings, and rearguard (Ewald): Exo 6:26; Exo 12:37; Exo 12:41; Exo 13:18. Pharaoh's despotism had supplied them with native officers whom they obeyed (Exo 5:14-21). Moses had in youth all the training which a warlike nation like Egypt could give him, and which would enable him to organize Israel as an army not a mob.
Jehovah as "a man of war" was at their head (Exo 15:1; Exo 15:3; Exo 13:20-22); under Him they won their first victory, that over Amalek (Exo 17:8-16). The 68th Psalm of David takes its starting point from Israel's military watchword under Jehovah in marching against the enemy (Num 10:35-36). In Jos 5:13-6;Jos 5:5. Jehovah manifests Himself in human form as "the Captain of the host of the Lord."
Antitypically, the spiritual Israel under Jehovah battle against Satan with spiritual arms (2Co 10:4-5; Eph 6:10-17; 1Th 5:8; 1Th 6:12; 2Ti 2:3; 2Ti 4:7; Rev 6:2). By the word of His mouth shall He in person at the head of the armies of heaven slay antichrist and his hosts in the last days (Rev 17:14; Rev 19:11-21). The Mosaic code fostered a self defensive, not an aggressive, spirit in Israel.
All Israelites (with some merciful exemptions, Deu 20:5-8) were liable to serve from 20 years and upward, thus forming a national yeomanry (Num 1:3; Num 1:26; 2Ch 25:5). The landowners and warriors being the same opposed a powerful barrier to assaults from without and disruption from within.
The divisions for civil purposes were the same as for military (Exo 18:21, compare Num 31:14); in both cases divided into thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and the chiefs bearing the same designation (sariy). In Deu 20:9 Vulgate, Syriac, etc., translated "the captains at the head of the people shall array them." But if "captains" were subject to the verb and not, as KJV object, the article might be expected. In KJV the captains meant are subordinate leaders of smaller divisions.
National landholders led by men already revered for civil authority and noble family descent, so long as they remained faithful to God, formed an army ensuring alike national security and a free constitution in a free country. Employed in husbandry, and attached to home, they had no temptation to war for conquest. The law forbidding cavalry, and enjoining upon all males attendance yearly at the three great feasts at Jerusalem, made war outside Palestine almost impossible.
Religion too treated them as polluted temporarily by any bloodshed however justifiable (Num 19:13-16; Num 31:19; 1Ki 5:3; 1Ch 28:3). A standing army was introduced under Saul (1Sa 13:2; 1Sa 14:47-52; 1Sa 18:5). (See ARMY) Personal prowess of individual soldiers determined the issue, as they fought hand to hand (2Sa 1:28; 2Sa 2:18; 1Ch 12:8; Amo 2:14-16), and sometimes in single combat (1 Samuel 17; 2Sa 2:14-17).
The trumpet by varied notes sounded for battle or for retreat (2Sa 2:28; 2Sa 18:16; 2Sa 20:22; 1Co 14:8). The priests blew the silver trumpets (Num 10:9; Num 31:6). In sieges, a line of circumvallation was drawn round the city, and mounds were thrown out from this, on which towers were erected from whence slingers and archers could assail the defenders (Eze 4:2; 2Sa 20:15; 2Ki 19:32; 2Ki 25:1). The Mosaic law mitigated the severities of ancient warfare.
Only males in arms were slain; women and children were spared, except the Canaanites who were doomed by God (Deu 20:13-14; Deu 21:10-14). Israel's mercy was noted among neighbouring nations (1Ki 20:31; 2Ki 6:20-23; Isa 16:5; contrast Jdg 16:21; 1Sa 11:2; 2Ki 25:7). Abimelech and Menahem acted with the cruelty of usurpers (Jdg 9:45; 2Ki 15:16). Amaziahacted with exceptional cruelty (2Ch 25:12).
Gideon's severity to the oppressor Midian (Judges 7-8), also Israel's treatment of the same after suffering by Midian's licentious and idolatrous wiles, and David's treatment of Moab and Ammon (probably for some extraordinary treachery toward his father and mother), are not incompatible with Israel's general mercy comparatively speaking.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on War
L The Terrain of Palestta*. U. The Jkthod of War. UL The Conduct of War. iv. Treaties. V. Tile Outiook of the Prophet* on W»r. vi. Allusious to War in the NT. i. The Terrain of Palestine.— The first re- quisite for understanding the wars of the Bible is a knowledge of the geography of Palestine. We need to know something about the routes wliich so unwieldy a traveller as an army can use, the physical and artificial obstacles which hinder it in its march, the [)laces which allow it room for fight- ing or for encamping, and other similar geographical details. (In reading this article the reader snould have open before him the large map of Palestine prefixed to vol. i. of this Dictionary). The great strategic routes are three in number. There is the important road which, coming from the north and skirting the coast of the Mediter- ranean, passes Tpe, Mount Carmel, and Gaza, and finally reaches the border of Egypt. Then there is the scarcely less important route, now followed by the railway from Damascus to Haifa, which takes a S.W. direction to the Jordan, and then crosses the whole len…
Smith's Bible Dictionary on War
The most important topic in connection with war is the formation of the army which is destined to carry it on. [Army] In (1 Kings 9:22) at a period (Solomon’s reign) when the organization of the army was complete, we have apparently a list of the various gradations of rank in the service, as follows: “Men of war” = privates ; “servants,” the lowest rank of officers—lieutenants ; “princes” = captains ; “captains,” perhaps = staff officers ; “rulers of the chariots and his horsemen” = cavalry officers . Formal proclamations of war were not interchanged between the belligerents. Before entering the enemy’s district spies were seat to ascertain the character of the country and the preparations of its inhabitants for resistance. (Numbers 13:17; Joshua 2:1; Judges 7:10; 1 Samuel 26:4) The combat assumed the form of a number of hand-to-hand contests; hence the high value attached to fleetness of foot and strength of arm. (2 Samuel 1:23; 2:18; 1 Chronicles 12:8) At the same time various strategic devices were practiced, such as the ambuscade, (Joshua 8:2,12; Judges 20:36) surprise, (Judges 7…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia