War

[Easton] The Israelites had to take possession of the Promised Land by conquest. They had to engage in a long and bloody war before the Canaanitish tribes were finally subdued. Except in the case of Jericho and Ai, the war did not become aggressive till after the death of Joshua. Till then the attack was always first made by the Canaanites. Now the measure of the iniquity of the Canaanites was full, and Israel was employed by God to sweep them away from off the face of the earth. In entering on this new stage of the war, the tribe of Judah, according to divine direction, took the lead. In the days of Saul and David the people of Israel engaged in many wars with the nations around, and after the division of the kingdom into two they often warred with each other. They had to defend themselves also against the inroads of the Egyptians, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians. The whole history of Israel from first to last presents but few periods of peace. The Christian life is represented as a warfare, and the Christian graces are also represented under the figure of pieces of armour (Eph. 6:11-17; 1 Thess. 5:8; 2 Tim. 2:3, 4). The final blessedness of believers is attained as the fruit of victory (Rev. 3:21). [Smith] 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) [Nave] –Divine approval of 2Sa 22:35 –Civil Jud 12:1-6 ; 20 ; 2Sa 2:12-31 ; 3:1 ; 20 ; 1Ki 14:30 ; 16:21 ; Isa 19:2 –Forbidden 2Ch 11:4 –Averted Jos 22:11-34 –Enemy harangued by the general of the opposing side 2Ki 18:19-36 ; 2Ch 13:4-12 –Of extermination Nu 31:7-17 ; De 2:33 , 34 ; 3:6 ; 20:13-18 ; Jos 6:21 , 24 ; 8:24 , 25 ; 10:2-40 ; 11:11-23 ; 1Sa 15:3-9 ; 27:8-11 –God in Ex 14:13 , 14 ; De 1:30 ; 3:21 , 22 ; 7:17-24 ; 20:1 , 4 ; 31:6-8 , 23 ; 32:29 , 30 ; Jos 1:1 , 5-7 , 9 ; Jud 1:2 ; 6:16 ; 7:9 ; 11:29 ; 1Sa 17:45-47 ; 19:5 ; 30:7 , 8 ; 2Sa 5:22-24 ; 22:18 ; 1Ki 20:28 ; Ps 18:34 ; 76:3 ; Jer 46:15 ; Am 5:8 , 9 ; Zec 10:5 –God uses, as a judgment Ex 23:24 ; Le 26:17 , 31-39 ; De 28:25-68 ; 32:30 ; Jud 2:14 ; 2Ki 15:37 ; 1Ch 5:22 , 26 ; 21:12 ; 2Ch 15:6 ; 12:1-12 ; 24:23 , 24 ; 33:11 ; 36 ; Job 19:29 ; Ps 44:9-16 ; 60:1-3 ; 105:25 ; Isa 5:1-8 , 25-30 ; 9:8-12 ; 13:3 , 4 , 9 ; 19:2 ; 34:2-6 ; 43:28 ; 45:7 ; Jer 12:7 , 12 ; 46:15-17 , 21 ; 47:6 , 7 ; 48:10 ; 49:5 ; 50:25 ; Eze 23:22-25 ; Am 3:6 ; 4:11 ; Zep 1:7-18 ; Zec 8:10 ; 14:2 –Repugnant to God 1Ch 22:8 , 9 ; Ps 68:30 ; 120:6 , 7 ; Re 13:10 –God sends panic in Ex 15:14-16 –Threatens defeat in De 32:25 ; 1Sa 2:10 ; 2Ch 18:12-16 ; Isa 30:15-17 ; Eze 15:6-8 ; 21:9-17 –Inflicts defeat in Jos 7:12 , 13 ; 2Ch 12:5-8 ; 24:23 , 24 ; Ps 76:3 ; 78:66 ; 79:10 ; Isa 5:25 ; Jer 46:15 , 16 –Counsels of Jos 22:10-34 ; Jud 7:10 , 11 ; 2Sa 16:20 ; 17:1-15 ; Ps 48:4-7 ; Pr 11:14 ; 20:18 –Wisdom required in Pr 21:22 ; 24:6 ; Ec 9:14-18 ; Lu 14:31 , 32 –Tumult of Am 2:2 –Killed in, neglected Isa 14:19 ; 18:6 –Evils of 2Sa 2:26 ; Ps 46:8 ; 79:1-3 ; 137:9 ; Isa 3:5 , 25 , 26 ; 5:29 , 30 ; 6:11 , 12 ; 9:5 , 19-21 ; 13:15 , 16 ; 15 ; 16:9 , 10 ; 18:6 ; 19:2-16 ; 32:13 , 14 ; 33:8 , 9 ; 34:7-15 ; Jer 4:19-31 ; 5:16 , 17 ; 6:24-26 ; 7:33 , 34 ; 8:16 , 17 ; 9:10-21 ; 10:20 ; 13:14 ; 14:18 ; 15:8 , 9 ; 19:7-9 ; 25:33 ; 46:3-12 ; 47:3 ; 48:28 , 33 ; 51:30-58 ; La 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 4 ; 5 ; Eze 33:27 ; 39:17-19 ; Ho 10:14 ; 13:16 ; Joe 2:2-10 ; Am 1:13 ; 6:9 , 10 ; 8:3 ; Na 2:10 ; 3:3 , 10 ; Zec 14:2 ; Lu 21:20-26 ; Re 19:17 , 18 –To cease Ps 46:9 ; Isa 2:4 ; Mic 4:3 –Wars and rumors of Mt 24:6 ; Mr 13:7 ; Lu 21:9 –See ARMIES –See ARMS –See FORT –See SOLDIERS –See STRATEGY –See TOWER –See WATCHMAN –FIGURATIVE .Warfare of saints .Is not after the flesh 2Co 10:3 .Is a good warfare 1Ti 1:18 , 19 .Called the good fight of faith 1Ti 6:12 .Is against .The Devil Ge 3:15 ; 2Co 2:11 ; Eph 1:12 ; Jas 4:7 ; 1Pe 5:8 ; Re 12:17 .The flesh Ro 7:23 ; 1Co 9:25-27 ; 2Co 12:7 ; Ga 5:17 ; 1Pe 2:11 .Enemies Ps 38:19 ; 56:2 ; 59:3 .The world Joh 16:33 ; 1Jo 5:4 , 5 .Death 1Co 15:26 ; with Heb 2:14 , 15 .Often arises from the opposition of friends or relatives Mic 7:6 ; Mt 10:35 , 36 .To be carried on .Under Christ, as our Captain Heb 2:10 .Under the Lord’ s banner Ps 60:4 .With faith 1Ti 1:18 , 19 .With a good conscience 1Ti 1:18 , 19 .With steadfastness in the faith 1Co 16:13 ; 1Pe 5:9 ; with Heb 10:23 .With earnestness Jude 1 :3 .With watchfulness 1Co 16:13 ; 1Pe 5:8 .With sobriety 1Th 5:6 ; 1Pe 5:8 .With endurance of hardness 2Ti 2:3 , 10 .With self-denial 1Co 9:25-27 .With confidence in God Ps 27:1-3 .With prayer Ps 35:1-3 ; Eph 6:18 .Without earthly entanglements 2Ti 2:4 .Mere professors do not maintain Jer 9:3 .Saints are all engaged in Php 1:30 .Must stand firm in Eph 6:13 , 14 .Exhorted to diligence in 1Ti 6:12 ; Jude 1 :3 .Encouraged in Isa 41:11 , 12 ; 51:12 ; Mic 7:8 ; 1Jo 4:4 .Helped by God in Ps 118:13 ; Isa 41:13 , 14 .Protected by God in Ps 140:7 .Comforted by God in 2Co 7:5 , 6 .Strengthened by God in Ps 20:2 ; 27:14 ; Isa 41:10 .Strengthened by Christ in 2Co 12:9 ; 2Ti 4:17 .Delivered by Christ in 2Ti 4:18 .Thank God for victory in Ro 7:25 ; 1Co 15:57 .Armor for .The belt of truth Eph 6:14 .The breastplate of righteousness Eph 6:14 .The preparation of the gospel Eph 6:15 .The shield of faith Eph 6:16 .The helmet of salvation Eph 6:17 ; 1Th 5:8 .The sword of the Spirit Eph 6:17 .Called “the armor of God,” Eph 6:11 .Called “the armor of righteousness,” 2Co 6:7 .Called “the armor of light,” Ro 13:12 .Not carnal 2Co 10:4 .Mighty through God 2Co 10:4 , 5 .The whole, is required Eph 6:13 .Must be put on Ro 13:12 ; Eph 6:11 .To be on the right hand and left, an idiom meaning: “to attack and to defend.” 2Co 6:7 .Victory in, is from God 1Co 15:57 ; 2Co 2:14 .Through Christ Ro 7:25 ; 1Co 15:57 ; 2Co 12:9 ; Re 12:11 .By faith Heb 11:33-37 ; 1Jo 5:4 , 5 .Over the Devil Ro 16:20 ; 1Jo 2:14 .Over the flesh Ro 7:24 , 25 ; Ga 5:24 .Over the world 1Jo 5:4 , 5 .Over all that exalts itself 2Co 10:5 .Over death and the grave Isa 25:8 ; 26:19 ; Ho 13:14 ; 1Co 15:54 , 55 .Triumphant Ro 8:37 ; 2Co 10:5 .Those who overcome in, will eat of the hidden manna Re 2:17 .Eat from the Tree of Life Re 2:7 .Be clothed in white clothing Re 3:5 .Be pillars in the temple of God Re 3:12 .Sit with Christ on his throne Re 3:21 .Have a white stone, and in it a new name written Re 2:17 .Have power over the nations Re 2:26 .Have the name of God written upon them by Christ Re 3:12 .Have God as their God Re 21:7 .Have the Morning Star Re 2:28 .Inherit all things Re 21:7 .Be confessed by Christ in the presence of God the Father Re 3:5 .Be sons of God Re 21:7 .Not be hurt by the Second Death Re 2:11 .Not have their names blotted out of the Book of Life Re 3:5 .Symbolized by a red horse Re 6:4 –IN HEAVEN .SYMBOLICAL Re 12:7