In the biblical context, generals are military leaders who play significant roles in the narratives of warfare and leadership among the Israelites and their adversaries. The Bible provides numerous accounts of generals who led armies, strategized battles, and influenced the course of Israelite history. These figures are often depicted as instruments of God's will, executing divine judgment or delivering God's people from oppression.

Old Testament Generals

1. Joshua: One of the most prominent generals in the Old Testament, Joshua succeeded Moses as the leader of Israel. He is best known for leading the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan. Under his command, the walls of Jericho fell after the Israelites marched around them for seven days (Joshua 6:20). Joshua's leadership is characterized by his faithfulness to God's commands and his role in distributing the land among the tribes of Israel.

2. Gideon: Called by God to deliver Israel from the Midianites, Gideon is a judge and military leader whose account is found in Judges 6-8. Despite his initial hesitation, Gideon led a small army of 300 men to victory over a vastly larger Midianite force, demonstrating that success in battle comes from reliance on God rather than sheer numbers (Judges 7:7).

3. David: Before becoming king, David was a renowned military leader. His defeat of Goliath (1 Samuel 17:50) marked the beginning of his rise to prominence. As a general, David led numerous successful campaigns against Israel's enemies, including the Philistines, and expanded the kingdom's territory. His military prowess is often attributed to his deep trust in God.

4. Joab: Serving as the commander of King David's army, Joab was a skilled and sometimes ruthless general. He played a crucial role in securing David's throne and leading military campaigns. Joab's actions, however, were not always aligned with David's wishes, as seen in his unauthorized killing of Absalom (2 Samuel 18:14).

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not focus on military generals in the same way as the Old Testament, the concept of spiritual warfare is prevalent. Believers are encouraged to put on the "full armor of God" to stand against spiritual adversaries (Ephesians 6:11). This metaphorical language reflects the ongoing battle between good and evil, with Christ as the ultimate leader and victor.

Role and Significance

Generals in the Bible are often depicted as chosen by God to fulfill specific purposes. Their successes and failures serve as lessons in obedience, faith, and the consequences of deviating from God's commands. The narratives of these military leaders underscore the belief that true victory comes from divine guidance and support rather than human strength alone.

Theological Implications

The accounts of generals in the Bible highlight the sovereignty of God in the affairs of nations and individuals. They illustrate the principle that God raises leaders to accomplish His purposes, often using unlikely individuals to achieve His plans. The accounts of these generals encourage believers to trust in God's providence and to seek His guidance in all endeavors, recognizing that He is the ultimate commander in the battles of life.

"The Truth. " Some Generals Proposed.
... CHAPTER X. "THE TRUTH." SOME GENERALS PROPOSED. That what we are to speak
to for the clearing and improving this noble piece of ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter x the truth some.htm

But the Angels, who are the True Rulers and Generals and Ministers ...
... Chapter XXXVI. But the angels, who are the TRUE rulers and generals and
ministers of God? But the angels, who are the true rulers ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxxvi but the angels.htm

How Judas Overthrew the Forces of Apollonius and Seron and Killed ...
... CHAPTER 7. How Judas Overthrew The Forces Of Apollonius And Seron And Killed The
Generals Of Their Armies Themselves; And How When, A Little While Afterwards ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how judas overthrew.htm

Cestius Sends Ambassadors to Nero. The People of Damascus Slay ...
... Of Jerusalem After They Had [Left Off] Pursuing Cestius, Return To The City And
Get Things Ready For Its Defense And Make A Great Many Generals For Their ...
/.../chapter 9 cestius sends ambassadors.htm

Next There Follows, "And in Christ Jesus, his Only Son, Our Lord. ...
... when he was chosen to lead the people, had his name changed from "Auses" to "Jesus,"
to shew that this was a name proper for princes and generals, for those ...
/.../6 next there follows and.htm

How the King of Babylon Took Jerusalem and Burnt the Temple and ...
... They were indeed only generals of the king of Babylon, to whom Nebuchadnezzar committed
the care of the siege, for he abode himself in the city of Riblah. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 how the king.htm

Of the Tyranny of Eugenius and the victory Won through Faith by ...
... When his generals represented that the forces on their side were few and recommended
him to allow some pause in the campaign, so as to muster an army at the ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xxiv of the tyranny of.htm

The Attack on the Scriptures
... When Alexander died he left his vast empire to be divided among his generals,
just as Napoleon did centuries later with his conquests. ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter vi the attack on.htm

The Life, Education, and Training of Julian, and his Accession to ...
... As Julian was very young, generals, to whom the prudential affairs were turned over,
were sent with him; but as these generals abandoned themselves to pleasure ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter ii the life education and.htm

Fragment xvii. On the Fortunes of Hyrcanus and Antigonus, and on ...
... and on behalf of Herod himself, and also because Antigonus was established as king
by the help of the Parthians, gave a commission to the generals in Palestine ...
/.../africanus/the writings of julius africanus/fragment xvii on the fortunes.htm

Generals (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Generals (2 Occurrences). Revelation 6:15 The kings
of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the ...
/g/generals.htm - 7k

Maccabaeus
... sort of buffer state between Egypt under the Ptolemies on the South, and Syria,
under the house of Seleucus, the last survivor of Alexander's generals, on the ...
/m/maccabaeus.htm - 17k

Maccabees
... sort of buffer state between Egypt under the Ptolemies on the South, and Syria,
under the house of Seleucus, the last survivor of Alexander's generals, on the ...
/m/maccabees.htm - 52k

Nicanor (1 Occurrence)
... Nicanor was one of the three generals commissioned by Lysias-the others being
Ptolemy, son of Dorymenes, and Gorgias (1 Maccabees 3:38). ...
/n/nicanor.htm - 14k

Demetrius (3 Occurrences)
... In the meantime, Tryphon, one of Balas' generals, set up the son of Alexander,
Antiochus, as a claimant to the throne, and secured the assistance of the ...
/d/demetrius.htm - 17k

Generally (7 Occurrences)

/g/generally.htm - 11k

Jabneh (1 Occurrence)
... Gorgias was there attacked by the Jewish generals Joseph and Azarias, contrary to
Judas' orders, who were repulsed with loss (1 Maccabees 5:56-60; Josephus, Ant ...
/j/jabneh.htm - 10k

Jabneel (2 Occurrences)
... Gorgias was there attacked by the Jewish generals Joseph and Azarias, contrary to
Judas' orders, who were repulsed with loss (1 Maccabees 5:56-60; Josephus, Ant ...
/j/jabneel.htm - 11k

Libertine
... case the name probably denotes those descendants of Jews who had been carried captives
to Rome as prisoners of war by Pompey and other Roman generals in the ...
/l/libertine.htm - 7k

Gennaeus
... ge-ne'-us, ge-ne'-us (Gennaios): Father of Apollonius, one of the Syrian generals
who troubled the Jews while Lysias was governor for Antiochus Eupator (2 ...
/g/gennaeus.htm - 6k

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