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 7:16) or circumvention.
(2 Samuel 5:23) Another mode of settling the dispute was by the selection of champions, (1 Samuel 17; 2 Samuel 2:14) who were spurred on to exertion by the offer of high reward. (1 Samuel 17:25; 18:25; 2 Samuel 18:11; 1 Chronicles 11:6) The contest having been decided, the conquerors were recalled from the pursuit by the sound of a trumpet.
(2 Samuel 2:28; 18:16; 20:22) The siege of a town or fortress was conducted in the following manner: A line of circumvallation was drawn round the place, (Ezekiel 4:2; Micah 5:1) constructed out of the trees found in the neighborhood, (20:20) together with earth and any other materials at hand. This line not only cut off the besieged from the surrounding country, but also served as a base of operations for the besiegers.
The next step was to throw out from this line one or more mounds or “banks” in the direction of the city, (2 Samuel 20:15; 2 Kings 19:32; Isaiah 37:33) which were gradually increased in height until they were about half as high as the city wall. On this mound or bank towers were erected, (2 Kings 25:1; Jeremiah 52:4; Ezekiel 4:2; 17:17; 21:22; 26:8) whence the slingers and archers might attack with effect.
Catapults were prepared for hurling large darts and stones; and the crow, a long spar, with iron claws at one end and ropes at the other, to pull down stones or men from the top of the wall. Battering-rams, (Ezekiel 4:2; 21:22) were brought up to the walls by means of the bank, and scaling-ladders might also be placed on it. The treatment of the conquered was extremely severe in ancient times.
The bodies of the soldiers killed in action were plundered, (1 Samuel 31:8) 2 Macc 8:27; the survivors were either killed in some savage manner, (Judges 9:45; 2 Samuel 12:31; 2 Chronicles 25:12) mutilated, (Judges 9:45; 2 Samuel 12:31; 2 Chronicles 25:12) mutilated, (Judges 1:6; 1 Samuel 11:2) or carried into captivity. (Numbers 31:26)
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…
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on 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…
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