The concept of war in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing divine judgment, human conflict, and spiritual warfare. Throughout the Scriptures, God is depicted as both a warrior and a sovereign ruler who uses war to accomplish His purposes, execute judgment, and deliver His people.

Divine Warrior

God is often portrayed as a divine warrior who fights on behalf of His people. In Exodus 15:3, following the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, Moses and the Israelites sing, "The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is His name." This depiction underscores God's power and authority over the forces of chaos and oppression. In the conquest of Canaan, God commands the Israelites to engage in warfare to claim the land He promised to their ancestors (Joshua 1:2-6). The victories in these battles are attributed to God's intervention and support, as seen in Joshua 10:42: "Joshua conquered all these kings and their lands in one campaign, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel."

Judgment and Justice

War is also a means by which God executes judgment and justice. In the Old Testament, God uses war to punish nations for their wickedness and idolatry. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) and the conquest of Canaan are examples where war serves as divine retribution. In Deuteronomy 9:4-5, God explains to the Israelites that they are not receiving the land because of their righteousness, but because of the wickedness of the nations: "It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you."

Protection and Deliverance

God's involvement in war is also seen in His protection and deliverance of His people. In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat faces a vast army, and God assures him, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:15). The narrative demonstrates God's ability to deliver His people without them having to fight, as He causes confusion among the enemy forces, leading to their defeat.

Spiritual Warfare

In the New Testament, the concept of war takes on a spiritual dimension. Believers are called to engage in spiritual warfare against the forces of evil. Ephesians 6:12 states, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." The armor of God, described in Ephesians 6:13-17, equips believers to stand firm in this spiritual battle, emphasizing truth, righteousness, faith, and the Word of God.

Peace and the Kingdom of God

While God is depicted as a warrior, the ultimate goal of His involvement in war is the establishment of peace and justice. The prophetic vision of the Messianic kingdom is one of peace, where swords are beaten into plowshares and nations no longer learn war (Isaiah 2:4). Jesus, the Prince of Peace, inaugurates this kingdom, calling His followers to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) and to love their enemies (Matthew 5:44).

In summary, God's involvement in war throughout the Bible serves multiple purposes, including judgment, deliverance, and the ultimate establishment of His kingdom of peace and righteousness.Exodus 14:13,14
And Moses said to the people, Fear you not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom you have seen to day, you shall see them again no more for ever.
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Deuteronomy 1:30
The LORD your God which goes before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;
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Deuteronomy 3:21,22
And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings: so shall the LORD do to all the kingdoms where you pass.
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Deuteronomy 7:17-24
If you shall say in your heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?
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Deuteronomy 20:1,4
When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, and chariots, and a people more than you, be not afraid of them: for the LORD your God is with you, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
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Deuteronomy 31:6-8,23
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD your God, he it is that does go with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you.
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Deuteronomy 32:29,30
O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
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Joshua 1:1,5-7,9
Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
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Judges 1:2
And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.
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Judges 6:16
And the LORD said to him, Surely I will be with you, and you shall smite the Midianites as one man.
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Judges 7:9
And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said to him, Arise, get you down to the host; for I have delivered it into your hand.
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Judges 11:29
Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon.
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1 Samuel 17:45-47
Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
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1 Samuel 19:5
For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel: you saw it, and did rejoice: why then will you sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
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1 Samuel 30:7,8
And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray you, bring me here the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
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2 Samuel 5:22-24
And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
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2 Samuel 22:18
He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
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1 Kings 20:28
And there came a man of God, and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, Thus said the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.
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Psalm 18:34
He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms.
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Psalm 76:3
There broke he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.
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Jeremiah 46:15
Why are your valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.
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Amos 5:8,9
Seek him that makes the seven stars and Orion, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night: that calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:
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Zechariah 10:5
And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.
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4501. rhomphaia -- Rompha, Rephan, the name of an Eg. god
... god. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: rhomphaia Phonetic Spelling:
(hrom-fah ... piercing grief Definition: a sword, scimitar; fig: war, piercing grief ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4501.htm - 6k

3696. hoplon -- a tool, implement, weapon
... 3696 ("instruments to make war") underlines that God always gives the resources
we need to -- as we live in faith ("His ," 2 Cor 6:7, 10:4). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3696.htm - 7k

697. Areios Pagos -- "the Hill of Ares," Areopagus, a hill in ...
... god of war) and pagos (a rocky hill) Definition "the Hill of Ares," Areopagus, a
hill in Athens NASB Word Usage Areopagus (2). Areopagus, Mars' Hill. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/697.htm - 6k

The Durations and Issues of War Depend on the Will of God.
... Book V. Chapter 22."The Durations and Issues of War Depend on the Will
of God. Thus also the durations of wars are determined ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 22 the durations and issues.htm

St. Stephen 85. The Son of God Goes Forth to War
... II. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR St. Stephen 85. The Son of God goes forth to war. CM
[304]Crusader: ... The Son of God goes forth to war,. A kingly crown to gain; ...
/.../st stephen 85 the son.htm

We must See God in all his Creatures.
... All the works of God are sublime and marvellous; while one's own actions, when they
war against God, cannot resist the divine action in one who is united to it ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/section x we must see god.htm

May-Time in War.
... MAY-TIME IN WAR. Der Meister ist ja lobenswerth. Worthy of praise the Master-hand. ...
From every little wood,. Doing her best to sing God's praise. ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/may-time in war.htm

The Triumph of Humility.
... Every wicked man, who, from the time of Cain, up to the present moment, has declared
war against God, has outwardly been great and powerful, making a great ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/section xii the triumph of humility.htm

They all Hold Swords, Being Expert in War; Every Man Hath his ...
... 8. They all hold swords, being expert in war; every man hath his sword upon ... which,
by a secret presumption, attributes to self what belongs to God only; and ...
/.../guyon/song of songs of solomon/8 they all hold swords.htm

Morning Prayer in Time of War and Persecution.
... Ill. In Time of War and Persecution. 8,8,8,8. Es geht daher des Tages Schein. ... And
all our guilt and sin remove. Eternal God! Almighty Friend,. ...
/.../lyra germanica second series the christian life/morning prayer in time of.htm

Peace on Earth through Righteousness
... It was the German contempt for these Christian ideals, it was the German idolatry
of the pagan Odin, naked, cruel, bloody, god of war, it was the German will ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/van dyke/what peace means/ii peace on earth through.htm

That it is not Lawful for the Well Affected Subjects to Concur in ...
... Objection 2. Jonathan did assist Saul in a war against the Philistines invading
the land ... them, although it was known that Saul was an hater of God's people and ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section iv that it is.htm

"Now the God of Hope Fill You with all Joy and Peace in Believing ...
... is all our life and happiness; yet since the first rebellion, every man is set contrary
to God, and in his affections and actions denounces war against heaven ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon ix now the god.htm

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