Introduction:
The concept of strategy in war is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, reflecting the importance of wisdom, planning, and divine guidance in achieving victory. The Bible presents numerous accounts where strategic thinking and reliance on God lead to triumph in battle. This entry explores various biblical instances and teachings related to military strategy.

Old Testament Examples:

1. Joshua and the Battle of Jericho:
One of the most notable examples of divine strategy is the fall of Jericho. God instructed Joshua to march around the city once a day for six days with the ark of the covenant, and on the seventh day, to march around the city seven times. The priests were to blow trumpets, and the people were to shout, leading to the walls collapsing (Joshua 6:1-20). This unconventional strategy highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands in warfare.

2. Gideon's Victory over the Midianites:
Gideon’s battle against the Midianites is another instance where strategy, under divine direction, led to victory. God reduced Gideon's army from 32,000 to 300 men to demonstrate that victory was by His power, not by human strength. The strategy involved surrounding the Midianite camp with trumpets and torches hidden in jars, creating confusion and causing the enemy to turn on each other (Judges 7:1-22).

3. David's Military Campaigns:
King David is renowned for his military prowess and strategic acumen. In 2 Samuel 5:22-25 , David inquired of the Lord before engaging the Philistines. God instructed him to circle around behind them and attack in front of the balsam trees, ensuring victory. David’s reliance on divine guidance for strategy is a recurring theme in his military campaigns.

Wisdom and Counsel:

1. Proverbs on Strategy:
The Book of Proverbs emphasizes the importance of wisdom and counsel in planning. Proverbs 20:18 states, "Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance." This underscores the value of seeking wise counsel and careful planning in warfare.

2. Ecclesiastes on Preparedness:
Ecclesiastes 9:18 notes, "Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good." This highlights the superiority of wisdom over mere military might and the potential for a single error to undermine strategic efforts.

Divine Guidance and Dependence:

1. Jehoshaphat’s Prayer and Victory:
In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat faced a vast army and sought the Lord in prayer. God assured him that the battle was His, not theirs. The strategy involved positioning singers to praise the Lord ahead of the army, leading to confusion among the enemy forces and their eventual defeat (2 Chronicles 20:1-23).

2. Hezekiah’s Defense against Assyria:
When King Hezekiah faced the threat of the Assyrian army, he sought the Lord and received assurance through the prophet Isaiah. The strategy involved fortifying Jerusalem and relying on God’s deliverance, resulting in the miraculous defeat of the Assyrian forces (2 Kings 19:32-36).

New Testament Insights:

1. Spiritual Warfare:
While the New Testament does not focus on physical warfare, it provides principles applicable to spiritual battles. Ephesians 6:11-13 instructs believers to "put on the full armor of God" to stand against spiritual forces. This passage emphasizes preparation, vigilance, and reliance on divine strength in spiritual conflicts.

2. Jesus’ Teachings on Counting the Cost:
In Luke 14:31-32 , Jesus uses the analogy of a king going to war to teach about the importance of counting the cost and strategic planning. This parable underscores the necessity of careful consideration and preparation in any endeavor, including warfare.

Conclusion:
The Bible presents a comprehensive view of strategy in war, emphasizing the importance of divine guidance, wisdom, and careful planning. Through various accounts, it illustrates that true victory comes from reliance on God and adherence to His instructions.Genesis 14:14,15
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them to Dan.
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Genesis 32:7,8
Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;
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Joshua 8:3-25
So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them away by night.
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Judges 7:16-23
And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.
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Judges 20:29-43
And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.
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2 Samuel 15:32-34
And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth on his head:
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2 Samuel 17:7-14
And Hushai said to Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time.
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Nehemiah 6:1
Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors on the gates;)
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Isaiah 15:1
The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;
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Jeremiah 6:5
Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
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Whether it is Lawful to Lay Ambushes in War?
... in the Book on Strategy [*Stratagematum i, 1] by Frontinus. Such like concealment
is what is meant by an ambush which may be lawfully employed in a just war. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 3.htm

Joshua's Conquest.
... of the contending armies can forecast the final issues of war. (5) The fact that
God is for one does not preclude the use of strategy and discretionary methods ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter viii joshuas conquest.htm

'More than Conquerors through Him'
... It was good policy to carry the war into the enemies' country, as it generally ...
Apparently his bold strategy led to the abandonment of the attack on Medeba, and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/more than conquerors through him.htm

New Uses for Old Trophies
... He can win the battle that knows how to use this artillery of remembering
God. Going on with the strategy of war, what next? Why ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/new uses for old trophies.htm

The Love of Rameses
... to another and elude me ere the battle is on, I would better treat thee to a strategy. ...
"Strange," mused Menes once again, "that the phrases of war mark the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxv the love of.htm

The Panoply of God
... Aldershot, not the battlefield, is the place for learning strategy. ... armour of light
unless in silence we draw near to Him who teaches our hands to war and our ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the panoply of god.htm

The Project of French Empire and Evangelization --Its Wide and ...
... with large forecasting of the future and with the methods of a grand strategy. ...
Successive European wars"King William's War, Queen Anne's War (of the Spanish ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter iii the project of.htm

The Lady Miriam
... The young man spoke of war and fellowship with a monarch as if he had been a lady's
page and ... "The half of great marriages are moves of strategy, attended more ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter vi the lady miriam.htm

Chapter xiv
... Though, of course, we encounter Abram here engaged in war, it is most evident that ...
b) shows that Abram recognized the need of some very strong strategy like a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiv.htm

October the Tenth Our Refuge and Strength
... Our finest strategy is sometimes to "rest in the Lord and wait." We can slay some ...
chances, if we go out and face them actively, "marching as to war." The best ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/october the tenth our refuge.htm

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