Topical Bible: War: Enemy Harangued by the General of the Opposing Side

◄ War: Enemy Harangued by the General of the Opposing Side ►

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In the biblical narrative, the haranguing of an enemy by the general of the opposing side is a strategic and psychological tactic used to demoralize and intimidate the adversary. This practice is evident in several accounts within the Scriptures, where leaders employ rhetoric to weaken the resolve of their enemies and bolster the confidence of their own forces.

One of the most notable examples of this tactic is found in the account of King Hezekiah and the Assyrian invasion of Judah. The Assyrian king, Sennacherib, sent his field commander, the Rabshakeh, to Jerusalem to deliver a message intended to instill fear and doubt among the people of Judah. The Rabshakeh stood by the aqueduct of the Upper Pool and addressed the people in their own language, Hebrew, to ensure that his words would be understood by all. He questioned their reliance on Egypt and their trust in the LORD, attempting to undermine their faith and loyalty to Hezekiah. The Rabshakeh declared, "Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he cannot deliver you. Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD, saying, 'The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria'" (2 Kings 18:29-30).

This psychological warfare aimed to create panic and encourage surrender without a fight. However, Hezekiah's response was to seek the LORD's guidance through the prophet Isaiah, who assured him of divine intervention. The LORD's deliverance came in the form of a miraculous defeat of the Assyrian army, demonstrating that faith in God could overcome the intimidation tactics of a powerful enemy.

Another instance of enemy haranguing is seen in the account of David and Goliath. The Philistine giant, Goliath, taunted the Israelite army for forty days, challenging them to send a champion to fight him. His words were designed to instill fear and highlight the apparent futility of resisting the Philistine forces. Goliath's challenge is recorded as, "Why do you come out to line up in battle formation? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me" (1 Samuel 17:8). Despite the intimidation, David, a young shepherd boy, stepped forward in faith, declaring that the battle belonged to the LORD. His victory over Goliath not only silenced the Philistine's taunts but also inspired the Israelite army to pursue and defeat their enemies.

These biblical accounts illustrate the power of words in warfare, both to intimidate and to inspire. The haranguing of an enemy by a general serves as a reminder of the spiritual and psychological dimensions of conflict, where faith and reliance on God can turn the tide against seemingly insurmountable odds.

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2 Kings 18:19-36
And Rabshakeh said to them, Speak you now to Hezekiah, Thus said the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein you trust?
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2 Chronicles 13:4-12
And Abijah stood up on mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, you Jeroboam, and all Israel;
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