Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, armies often marched in ranks, demonstrating order, discipline, and unity. This structured formation was not only crucial for battle but also for various duties, including escort missions. Escort duty involved protecting individuals or groups during travel, ensuring their safety and security.
Escort Duty in the Old TestamentOne of the notable instances of escort duty is found in the book of Ezra. When Ezra led a group of exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem, he was concerned about their safety during the journey. Although he was ashamed to request a military escort from the king, he relied on God's protection.
Ezra 8:22-23 states, "For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from the enemies on the road, because we had told the king, 'The hand of our God is upon all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.' So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request."
Despite Ezra's reliance on divine protection, the concept of military escort was well understood and utilized in other contexts. Escort duties were often performed by soldiers who marched in ranks, providing a formidable presence to deter potential threats.
Escort Duty in the New TestamentIn the New Testament, the Apostle Paul experienced escort duty during his travels. In
Acts 23, after a plot against Paul's life was discovered, the Roman commander ordered an escort to ensure his safe passage to Governor Felix.
Acts 23:23-24 records, "Then he called two of his centurions and said, 'Prepare a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Provide mounts for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Governor Felix.'"
This passage highlights the Roman military's use of organized ranks to perform escort duties, ensuring the safety of individuals deemed important or at risk. The presence of a large, well-ordered military escort served as a deterrent to any who might seek to harm Paul.
Significance of Marching in RanksThe practice of marching in ranks for escort duty underscores the importance of order and discipline within military operations. It reflects a broader biblical principle of structure and unity, as seen in various aspects of God's creation and governance. The disciplined ranks of soldiers not only provided physical protection but also symbolized the strength and authority of the entity they represented, whether it be a king, a governor, or, in a spiritual sense, the divine protection of God over His people.
In summary, the concept of armies marching in ranks for escort duty is a recurring theme in the Bible, illustrating the importance of order, protection, and the fulfillment of God's purposes through both human and divine means.
Nave's Topical Index
2 Kings 1:9Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spoke to him, You man of God, the king has said, Come down.
Nave's Topical IndexActs 23:23,24,31-33
And he called to him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen three score and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
Nave's Topical Index
Library
The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty
... the foot-soldiers, and, breaking up their ranks, would tread ... to witness their arrival,
beheld the march past of ... a practicable road for her armies marching to ...
/.../chapter iiithe eighteenth theban dynasty.htm
The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... it merely means that Cyaxares converted all the small feudal armies which had ... in
filling up the gaps which even victories made in their ranks; enervated by the ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm
The Reaction against Egypt
... continued, in spite of them, to march southward, and ... Lycians, Mysians, Dardanians,
were the national armies of these ... first year of Seti, among the ranks of the ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm
The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... manouvres; it was associated with and formed an escort to the ... and also to the fact
that the armies of all ... es-Sauar or es- Saur, eight hours' march from the ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm
The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... or by priests charged with the duty of keeping ... catastrophe occasioned by the movement
of the Asiatic armies. ... of offering a serious resistance to the march of a ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm
Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... He could either continue his march westwards, and, penetrating ... and 755, which brought
his armies right up ... Karduniash entailed on him the duty of safeguarding ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm
Period iv. The Age of the Consolidation of the Church: 200 to 324 ...
... middle of the fourth century at Rome March 7. See ... in Antioch, she sent for him with
a military escort. ... was composed of persons of all social ranks is attested ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period iv the age of.htm
The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... them away,"that ancient river, the river Kishon."O my soul, march on with ... took their
places each at the head of his own contingent.* Their armies were made ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm
Resources
Who was Joab in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgDoes Bible prophecy predict that there will be a World War 3 (III, three) before the end times? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the Babylonian captivity/exile? | GotQuestions.orgArmies: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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