Topical Bible: War: Civil

◄ War: Civil ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Civil war, as depicted in the Bible, refers to armed conflict between factions within the same nation or kingdom. The Scriptures provide several accounts of civil wars, primarily within the nation of Israel, highlighting the causes, events, and consequences of such internal strife. These narratives serve as both historical records and moral lessons, reflecting the complexities of human nature and the consequences of sin and disobedience to God.

1. The War between the House of Saul and the House of David

One of the earliest recorded civil wars in the Bible occurred between the house of Saul and the house of David. After the death of King Saul, a power struggle ensued between Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, and David, who had been anointed by Samuel as the future king of Israel. This conflict is detailed in 2 Samuel 3:1: "Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was long and drawn out, with David growing stronger and the house of Saul becoming weaker."

The war was marked by a series of battles and political maneuvers, ultimately leading to the assassination of Ish-bosheth and the unification of Israel under David's rule. This civil war underscores the theme of divine providence and the fulfillment of God's promises, as David's kingship was established according to God's will.

2. Absalom's Rebellion

Another significant civil war in Israel's history was the rebellion led by Absalom, King David's son. Absalom's insurrection is a poignant example of familial betrayal and ambition. The narrative unfolds in 2 Samuel 15-18, where Absalom conspires to overthrow his father, David, by winning the hearts of the people of Israel.

The conflict culminates in a decisive battle in the forest of Ephraim, where Absalom's forces are defeated, and Absalom himself is killed. David's lament over Absalom's death, as recorded in 2 Samuel 18:33, reveals the personal anguish and tragedy that often accompany civil strife: "The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. As he walked, he cried out, 'O my son Absalom, O my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!'"

3. The Division of the Kingdom

The division of the united monarchy into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah is another form of civil conflict, though it did not initially involve warfare. This division occurred after the reign of Solomon, due to his son Rehoboam's harsh policies, as described in 1 Kings 12. The ten northern tribes rejected Rehoboam's rule, leading to the establishment of a separate kingdom under Jeroboam.

While the initial split was relatively peaceful, it set the stage for ongoing hostilities and wars between the two kingdoms, as seen in various accounts throughout the books of Kings and Chronicles. This division highlights the consequences of unfaithfulness to God's covenant and the importance of wise and just leadership.

4. The Conflict between Jephthah and the Ephraimites

In the time of the Judges, a civil conflict arose between Jephthah, a judge of Israel, and the tribe of Ephraim. The Ephraimites accused Jephthah of not including them in the battle against the Ammonites, leading to a confrontation. Judges 12:4-6 describes the ensuing battle, where Jephthah's forces defeated the Ephraimites, resulting in significant loss of life.

This incident illustrates the dangers of pride and internal discord, as well as the need for unity among God's people. It serves as a reminder of the destructive potential of unresolved grievances and the importance of seeking reconciliation.

5. Lessons and Themes

The biblical accounts of civil war emphasize several key themes, including the sovereignty of God, the consequences of sin, and the importance of righteous leadership. These narratives reveal how personal ambition, jealousy, and disobedience can lead to division and conflict, while also demonstrating God's ability to bring about His purposes even amidst human strife.

Civil wars in the Bible also serve as a cautionary tale about the fragility of human institutions and the need for reliance on God's guidance and wisdom. They remind believers of the call to pursue peace, unity, and justice within the community of faith, as exemplified in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.

Nave's Topical Index

Judges 12:1-6
And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said to Jephthah, Why passed you over to fight against the children of Ammon, and did not call us to go with you? we will burn your house on you with fire.
Nave's Topical Index

Judges 20:1
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to the LORD in Mizpeh.
Nave's Topical Index

2 Samuel 2:12-31
And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
Nave's Topical Index

2 Samuel 3:1
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
Nave's Topical Index

2 Samuel 20:1
And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
Nave's Topical Index

1 Kings 14:30
And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.
Nave's Topical Index

1 Kings 16:21
Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.
Nave's Topical Index

Isaiah 19:2
And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbor; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

And Now a Civil War Broke Out Between Constantine and Maxentius. . ...
... Chap. XLIV. And now a civil war broke out between Constantine and Maxentius.?
And now a civil war broke out between Constantine and Maxentius. ...
/.../lactantius/of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xliv and now a.htm

The Civil War --Antecedents and Consequences.
... A HISTORY OF AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY. CHAPTER XIX. THE CIVIL WAR"ANTECEDENTS
AND CONSEQUENCES. IT has been observed that for nearly ...
/.../a history of american christianity/chapter xix the civil warantecedents.htm

About These Times, Civil War, as we have Said...
... About these times, civil war, as we have said? About these times, civil war, as
we have said, had broken out; and the following was the cause of the tumult. ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxix about these times.htm

Of the Civil War Between Marius and Sylla.
... Book III. Chapter 27."Of the Civil War Between Marius and Sylla. But when
Marius, stained with the blood of his fellow-citizens ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 27 of the civil war.htm

The Jewish War and the Destruction of Jerusalem. AD 70
... says, was placed as a hangman over evil-doers, an organized rebellion broke out
against the Romans, but it the same time a terrible civil war also between ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 38 the jewish war.htm

After the War.
... The inauguration of these systems of religious education at the South was the most
conspicuously important of the immediate sequels of the Civil War. ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter xx after the war.htm

Events During the War
... Chapter IV Events During the War. I was eight years old when the Civil War
began. The first event that I remember in connection with ...
/.../cole/trials and triumphs of faith/chapter iv events during the.htm

Of the Wickedness of the War Waged by the Romans against the ...
... grandsons of Jupiter? For this, too, was a "worse than civil" war, in which
the belligerent states were mother and daughter. And to this ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 14 of the wickedness of.htm

Whether Fortitude is Properly About Dangers of Death in Battle?
... in battle rather than in civil life," says: "Although not a few think that the business
of war is of greater importance than the affairs of civil life, this ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether fortitude is properly about.htm

How the Britons, Being for a Time at Rest from Foreign Invasions ...
... IN the meantime, in Britain, there was some respite from foreign, but
not from civil war. The cities destroyed by the enemy and ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xxii how the britons.htm