In biblical times, the concept of mercenaries—soldiers for hire—was not uncommon. These individuals or groups were often employed by nations or leaders who required additional military strength. The Bible provides several instances and references that shed light on the use and perception of mercenaries in ancient Israel and surrounding nations.

Old Testament References

1. David and the Philistines: One of the most notable instances involving mercenaries is found in the account of David. Before he became king, David and his men served as mercenaries for Achish, the Philistine king of Gath. In 1 Samuel 27:1-12, David seeks refuge with Achish and offers his services, which Achish accepts, believing David has made himself an enemy of Israel. This arrangement allowed David to conduct raids against Israel's enemies while maintaining the guise of loyalty to the Philistines.

2. The Hired Soldiers of Egypt: The prophet Jeremiah speaks of mercenaries in the context of Egypt's military. In Jeremiah 46:21, the hired soldiers of Egypt are described as fattened calves, indicating their readiness for battle but also their eventual defeat: "Even her mercenaries are like fattened calves; they too will turn back; they will flee together. They will not stand their ground, for the day of disaster is upon them, the time of their punishment."

3. The Book of Ezekiel: Ezekiel 30:5 mentions mercenaries in the context of a prophecy against Egypt, listing various nations and peoples who will fall by the sword, including "Cush and Put, Lydia and all Arabia, Libya and the people of the covenant land." These groups were known to provide mercenary forces to larger empires.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not explicitly mention mercenaries, the Roman Empire, which forms the backdrop of much of the New Testament narrative, frequently employed mercenaries from various regions to bolster its legions. The presence of diverse soldiers in the Roman army is implicit in the accounts of Roman centurions and soldiers encountered by Jesus and the apostles.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The use of mercenaries in the Bible often carries a complex moral undertone. On one hand, they are seen as a practical solution for military needs, but on the other, their loyalty is often questioned due to their financial motivations. This duality is evident in the biblical narrative, where reliance on mercenaries sometimes leads to unforeseen consequences or divine judgment.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the reliance on mercenaries can be seen as a lack of trust in God's provision and protection. The Israelites were often reminded to rely on God rather than military might or foreign alliances. In Isaiah 31:1, the prophet warns, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the abundance of chariots and in the multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD."

Conclusion

The biblical portrayal of mercenaries reflects the broader themes of trust, loyalty, and divine reliance. While they served a practical role in ancient warfare, their presence in the biblical narrative often serves as a reminder of the potential pitfalls of relying on human strength over divine guidance.(n.) Plural of Mercenary.7917a. sekirah -- that is hired
... that is hired. Transliteration: sekirah Short Definition: hired. Word Origin fem.
of sakir, qv NASB Word Usage hired (1), mercenaries (1). 7917, 7917a. ...
/hebrew/7917a.htm - 5k

How Demetrius Eucerus Overcame Alexander and yet in a Little Time ...
... and took those that invited him, and pitched his camp near the city Shechem; upon
which Alexander, with his six thousand two hundred mercenaries, and about ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 14 how demetrius eucerus.htm

What Actions were done by Alexander Janneus, who Reigned Twenty ...
... Shechem. 5. Yet did Alexander meet both these forces with one thousand horsemen,
and eight thousand mercenaries that were on foot. He ...
/.../chapter 4 what actions were.htm

The Sack of Rome
... Supported by his army of mercenaries and adventurers in the pay of the Empire like
himself, his dealings with Honorius were a kind of continual blackmail. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/i the sack of rome.htm

The Ancient Form of Government Utterly Corrupted by the Tyranny of ...
... Objection answered. 9. Presbyters divided into beneficiaries and mercenaries. ...
The mercenaries condemned by the word of God. 10. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 5 the ancient form.htm

Cestius Sends Ambassadors to Nero. The People of Damascus Slay ...
... and two hundred and fifty horsemen; [34] and besides these, on which he put the
greatest trust, there were about four thousand five hundred mercenaries; he had ...
/.../chapter 9 cestius sends ambassadors.htm

Chapter i.
... 1 ff.). Jewish mercenaries are said to have fought in the expedition of
Psammetichus I. against Ethiopia c. BC650 (cf. Ps.-Arist ...
/.../an introduction to the old testament in greek additional notes/chapter i.htm

Guests at an Imperial Banquet
... in counsel, flying hither and thither to defend the Empire, and that he should entrust
our defence to a native army, not to barbarian mercenaries, whom he ...
/.../chapter xix guests at an.htm

Letter Xlvi (Circa AD 1125) to Guigues, the Prior, and to the ...
... Apostle says owe no one anything except to love one another (Romans 13:8) are
themselves as God is in this world, nor are they slaves or mercenaries, but sons. ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter xlvi circa a d 1125.htm

History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 2
... temples, and possessions in mortmain; the priesthood, its hierarchy, and the method
of recruiting its ranks -- The military: foreign mercenaries; native militia ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 2/title page.htm

Amaziah
... This man came uninvited, and told the king that he must pack off these mercenaries
to their own country again, for God was not with them, and God would not be ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/amaziah.htm

Mercenaries (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Mercenary. Multi-Version Concordance
Mercenaries (1 Occurrence). Jeremiah 46:21 Also her ...
/m/mercenaries.htm - 7k

Philistines (224 Occurrences)
... DAVID'S GUARDS 1. The "Cherethi" and the "Pelethi" Not Mercenaries 2. Meaning of
These Terms 3. Native Hebrews 4. Review LITERATURE I. Old Testament Notices. ...
/p/philistines.htm - 75k

Army (401 Occurrences)
... and Ittai of Gath, and although later kings hired aliens for their campaigns, it
was not till the Maccabean struggle for independence that mercenaries came to ...
/a/army.htm - 76k

Dispersion (4 Occurrences)
... At a later time Jewish mercenaries are said to have fought in the expedition of
Psammetichus II against Ethiopia, to which expedition belong the famous ...
/d/dispersion.htm - 44k

Merchandise (34 Occurrences)

/m/merchandise.htm - 22k

Kir (11 Occurrences)
... from these two places, though one might expect them to be hostile to the Assyrians
in general, were to be found in their armies, probably as mercenaries. ...
/k/kir.htm - 17k

Ludim (3 Occurrences)
... Genesis 10:13; 1 Chronicles 1:11). They are associated (Jeremiah 46:9) with
African nations as mercenaries of the king of Egypt. Int. ...
/l/ludim.htm - 11k

Thracian
... Mention is made of a Thracian horseman in 2 Maccabees 12:35. The cavalry of this
fierce people were in demand as mercenaries in all countries. ...
/t/thracian.htm - 7k

Thracia
... Mention is made of a Thracian horseman in 2 Maccabees 12:35. The cavalry of this
fierce people were in demand as mercenaries in all countries. ...
/t/thracia.htm - 6k

Rhegium (1 Occurrence)
... For, in imitation of a similar band of mercenaries across the strait in Messana,
they massacred the male inhabitants and reduced the women to slavery (Polybius ...
/r/rhegium.htm - 8k

What was the Synod of Dort? | GotQuestions.org

Mercenaries: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus