Armies.

From: The New Topical Textbook By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 2 min. read • grade level: 14

Antiquity of. Gen. 14:1-8¹And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; ²That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. ³All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. ⁴Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. ⁵And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, ⁶And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness. ⁷And they returned, and came to En-mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar. ⁸And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; (Genesis 14:1‑8). Ancient, often numerous. Jos. 11:4⁴And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. (Joshua 11:4). 1 Sam. 13:5⁵And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven. (1 Samuel 13:5).

Of different nations often confederated. Jos. 9:2²That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord. (Joshua 9:2). Jos. 10:5⁵Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it. (Joshua 10:5). Jud. 3: 13, 1 Kin. 20:1.

Troops often hired for. 1 Chr. 19:7⁷So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle. (1 Chronicles 19:7). 2 Chr. 25:6⁶He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver. (2 Chronicles 25:6).

WERE COMPOSED OF

Bowmen and slingers. 1 Chr. 12:2²They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 12:2). Jer. 4:29²⁹The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein. (Jeremiah 4:29).

Spearman or heavy troops. Psa. 68:30³⁰Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war. (Psalm 68:30). Acts 23:23²³And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; (Acts 23:23).

Cavalry, Exo. 14:9⁹But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon. (Exodus 14:9). 1 Kin. 20:20.

War-chariots. Jos. 17:16¹⁶And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Beth-shean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel. (Joshua 17:16). Jud. 4:3

Often consisted of the whole effective strength of nations. Num. 21:23²³And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. (Numbers 21:23). 1 Sam. 29:1¹Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel. (1 Samuel 29:1).

Furnished with standards, SoS. 6:4 Isa. 10:18¹⁸And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth. (Isaiah 10:18). Jer. 4:21²¹How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? (Jeremiah 4:21).

Accompanied by beast of burden and wagons for baggage. Jud. 7:12. 2 Kin. 7:7. Eze. 23:24²⁴And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments. (Ezekiel 23:24).

Generally in three divisions. Gen. 14:15¹⁵And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. (Genesis 14:15). Job. 1:17.

WERE LED BY

Kings in person. 2 Kin. 18:13. 2 Kin. 25:1

Experienced captains. 2 Kin. 18: 17, 24.

CALLED THE

Wings of a nation. Isa. 8:8⁸And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. (Isaiah 8:8). Jer. 48:40⁴⁰For thus saith the Lord; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab. (Jeremiah 48:40).

Power of Kings. 2 Chr. 32:9⁹After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, (2 Chronicles 32:9).

Hosts. Jos. 10:5⁵Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it. (Joshua 10:5). Jud. 8:10.

Bands. 2 Kin. 24:2. 1 Chr. 7:4⁴And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, six and thirty thousand men: for they had many wives and sons. (1 Chronicles 7:4).

Began their ir campaigns in the spring. 2 Sam. 11:1¹And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 11:1).

Often went on foreign service. Jer. 5:15¹⁵Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the Lord: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say. (Jeremiah 5:15). Jer. 50:3³For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast. (Jeremiah 50:3).

MARCHED

Often in open line. Hab. 1:6, 8⁶For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. (Habakkuk 1:6)
⁸Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. (Habakkuk 1:8).

With order and precision. Isa. 5:27²⁷None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken: (Isaiah 5:27). Joel 2:7, 8⁷They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: ⁸Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. (Joel 2:7‑8).

With rapidity. Jer. 48: 40. Hab. 1:8⁸Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. (Habakkuk 1:8).

With noise and tumult. Isa. 17: 12, 13. Joel 2:5⁵Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. (Joel 2:5).

EMPLOYED IN

Fighting battles. 1 Sam. 17:2, 3²And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. ³And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. (1 Samuel 17:2‑3). 1 Chr. 19:17¹⁷And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him. (1 Chronicles 19:17).

Besieging cities. Deu. 20:12. Isa. 29:3³And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee. (Isaiah 29:3).

Assaulting cities. Jos 7:3, 4³And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few. ⁴So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. (Joshua 7:3‑4). Jud. 9:45.

Often surprised their enemies. Jos. 8:2²And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it. (Joshua 8:2). 2 Chr. 13:13¹³But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them. (2 Chronicles 13:13). Jer. 51: 12.

Commenced their battles with a shout. 1 Sam. 17:20²⁰And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. (1 Samuel 17:20). 2 Chr. 13:15¹⁵Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. (2 Chronicles 13:15). Jer. 51:14¹⁴The Lord of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee. (Jeremiah 51:14).

Toil and fatigue often endured by. Eze. 29:18¹⁸Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it: (Ezekiel 29:18).

Divided the spoil. Exo. 15:9⁹The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. (Exodus 15:9). Zec. 14:1¹Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. (Zechariah 14:1).

Sent out foraging parties. 2 Kin. 5:2.

Exercised savage cruelties on the vanquished. Jer. 50:42⁴²They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not show mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon. (Jeremiah 50:42). Lam. 5: 11-13. Amos 1:13¹³Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border: (Amos 1:13).

Frequently the instrument of God's vengeance. Isa. 10:5, 6⁵O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. ⁶I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. (Isaiah 10:5‑6). Isa. 13:5⁵They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. (Isaiah 13:5).

In latter ages received pay. Luke 3:14¹⁴And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. (Luke 3:14). 1 Cor. 9:7⁷Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? (1 Corinthians 9:7).

ENCAMPED

In the open fields. 2 Sam. 11:11¹¹And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. (2 Samuel 11:11). 1 Chr. 11:15¹⁵Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim. (1 Chronicles 11:15).

Before cities. Jos. 10:5⁵Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it. (Joshua 10:5). 1 Sam. 11:1¹Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. (1 Samuel 11:1).

Fear occasioned by. Num. 22:3³And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. (Numbers 22:3). Jer. 6:25²⁵Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side. (Jeremiah 6:25).

Devastation occasioned by. Isa. 37:18¹⁸Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries, (Isaiah 37:18). Jer. 5:17¹⁷And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword. (Jeremiah 5:17).

OFTEN DESTROYED BY

Their enemies. Exo. 17:13¹³And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. (Exodus 17:13). Jos. 10:10, 20¹⁰And the Lord discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah. (Joshua 10:10)
²⁰And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities. (Joshua 10:20). Jud. 11:33. 2 Sam. 18:7⁷Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men. (2 Samuel 18:7). 1 Kin. 20:21.

Themselves through divine interposition. Jud. 7:22. 1 Sam. 14:15, 16¹⁵And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling. ¹⁶And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another. (1 Samuel 14:15‑16). 2 Chr. 20:23²³For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. (2 Chronicles 20:23).

Supernatural means. Jos. 10:11¹¹And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. (Joshua 10:11). 2 Kin. 19:35.

Brought their idols with them. 1 Chr. 14:12¹²And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire. (1 Chronicles 14:12).

COMPARED TO

Whirlwinds. Jer. 25:32³²Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. (Jeremiah 25:32).

Waters of a river. Isa. 8:7⁷Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: (Isaiah 8:7).

Caterpillars. Jer. 51:14, 27¹⁴The Lord of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee. (Jeremiah 51:14)
²⁷Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers. (Jeremiah 51:27).

Grasshoppers. Jud. 6:3-5. Jud. 7:12.

Locusts. Isa. 33.4. Rev. 9:3, 7³And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. (Revelation 9:3)
⁷And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. (Revelation 9:7). Flies. Isa. 7:18, 19¹⁸And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. ¹⁹And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes. (Isaiah 7:18‑19).

Clouds. Eze. 38:9-16⁹Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. ¹⁰Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: ¹¹And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, ¹²To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. ¹³Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? ¹⁴Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? ¹⁵And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: ¹⁶And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. (Ezekiel 38:9‑16).

Overflowing torrents. Isa. 28:2²Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. (Isaiah 28:2) Dan. 11:10, 26¹⁰But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress. (Daniel 11:10)
²⁶Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain. (Daniel 11:26).

ILLUSTRATIVE OF

Multitudes of angels. 1 Kin. 22:19. Psa. 148:2²Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. (Psalm 148:2). Dan. 4:35³⁵And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? (Daniel 4:35). Mat. 26: 53.

The Church. Dan. 8:10-13¹⁰And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. ¹¹Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. ¹²And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered. ¹³Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? (Daniel 8:10‑13). SoS. 6:4, 10.

Numerous and heavy afflictions. Job 19:12¹²His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle. (Job 19:12).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Ark of the Covenant, the.

• Armies.

• Armies of Israel, the.

• Arms, Military.

• Arrows.

• Arts of the.

• Ascension of Christ, the.

• Asher, the Tribe of.

• Atonement, the Day of.

• Atonement, Under the Law.

• Babylon.

• Backsliding

• Baptism.

• Baptism With the Holy Ghost.

• Benjamin, Tribe of.

• Birds.

• Blasphemy.

• Blessed, the.

• Blindness, Spiritual.

• Blood.