Standard: Used: To Direct the Route to Cities Which Were Well Defended
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In biblical times, standards served as important tools for directing the movement of people, particularly in military contexts. These standards were often used to guide the route to cities that were well defended, ensuring that armies and travelers could navigate effectively through the ancient landscape.

Historical Context

Standards, or banners, were typically mounted on poles and carried by leaders or designated individuals within a group. They were often adorned with symbols or emblems that represented tribes, families, or military units. The use of standards was a common practice among ancient Near Eastern cultures, including the Israelites, as a means of organization and communication during travel and warfare.

Biblical References

The Bible provides several instances where standards were used to direct the movement of the Israelites, particularly during their wilderness journey and military campaigns. In the Book of Numbers, the Israelites are instructed to camp and set out according to their tribal divisions, each with its own standard:

· "The Israelites are to camp under their respective banners beside the flags of their fathers’ houses. They are to camp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance." (Numbers 2:2)

This passage highlights the importance of standards in maintaining order and ensuring that each tribe knew its position relative to the others and the central sanctuary.

Military Use

In a military context, standards were crucial for directing troops during battles and sieges. They served as rallying points and helped maintain cohesion among soldiers. The presence of a standard could also boost morale, as it symbolized the unity and strength of the group.

The prophet Isaiah references the raising of a standard as a call to arms and a signal for gathering:

· "Raise a banner on a barren hilltop; call aloud to them. Wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles." (Isaiah 13:2)

This imagery underscores the role of standards in mobilizing forces and directing them toward strategic locations, such as well-defended cities.

Symbolic Significance

Beyond their practical use, standards held symbolic significance in the biblical narrative. They represented the identity and divine protection of the people. The standards of the tribes of Israel, for example, were not merely functional but also served as reminders of God's covenant and guidance.

In the prophetic literature, the raising of a standard often symbolizes divine intervention or judgment. Jeremiah speaks of a standard as a warning of impending invasion:

· "Raise a banner in the land; blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her; summon the kingdoms against her..." (Jeremiah 51:27)

Here, the standard acts as a divine signal, directing nations to gather for a purpose ordained by God.

Conclusion

The use of standards in biblical times was multifaceted, serving both practical and symbolic purposes. They were essential for directing the route to well-defended cities, organizing tribes and armies, and conveying messages of divine significance. Through these standards, the biblical narrative illustrates themes of order, identity, and divine guidance.
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Jeremiah 4:6
Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The First Theban Empire
... The Pharaohs were not ambitious of holding direct sway over ... with them, testify to
a high standard of civilisation ... in querns, similar to those used for crushing ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

Chaldaean Civilization
... In great cities such as Babylon the palace occupied a ... they never seem to have been
used, even in ... duties, daily opportunities of gaining a direct influence over ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... the inhabitants of Nairi; Assur-nazir-pal now used it as ... manner similar to that followed
in the cities on the ... reaches the same point by a direct route over the ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... a rule that no one should have direct access to the ... of a single pair of oxen, and
the waggon used by him ... and it was there that her sacred cities"Tyana, Venasa ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... contempt, Ebed, was, according to this view, thus used to replace ... Their geographical
position, indeed, on the direct and almost only route for caravans ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1832 to the Beginning ...
... in the hands of men, may be so used as to ... by the prospect of speedily planting the
standard of the ... Louis, by the most direct route, was estimated to be about ...
/.../chapter 12 from the close.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... while galleys built on a special model were used as transports ... great king was exercised
in a direct manner, the ... show to what an extent the route was frequented ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... These ancient Trojans used copper, and we encounter only rarely a ... This route was
one frequented in early times, and its ... These phrases are taken direct from the ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... in much the same terms as I have used above, and then ... the ancient heritage of Assur
lay open to direct and swift ... How long shall I see the standard and hear the ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Religious Revolution
... a book that remained for centuries the standard authority on ... by the success of the
Turks, used all his ... his whole line of conduct were in direct opposition to ...
/.../chapter ii the religious revolution.htm

Resources
What is the American Standard Version (ASV)? | GotQuestions.org

What is the English Standard Version (ESV)? | GotQuestions.org

What is the New American Standard Bible (NASB)? | GotQuestions.org

Standard: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Standard: Used: To Call Attention to News
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