In the context of the Bible, the term "troop" is often used to describe a group or band of soldiers, warriors, or a company of people. The concept of a troop is significant in various narratives, illustrating both the military and communal aspects of ancient Israelite society.

Old Testament References

1. Military Context: The term "troop" frequently appears in the context of warfare and military organization. In 2 Samuel 22:30, David declares, "For by You I can run through a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall." This verse highlights the divine empowerment that enables David to overcome formidable military forces. Similarly, in 1 Chronicles 12:18, the Spirit comes upon Amasai, chief of the captains, who declares allegiance to David, indicating the gathering of troops to support David's kingship.

2. Tribal and Familial Associations: The term is also used in a more tribal or familial sense. In Genesis 49:19, Jacob prophesies over his son Gad, saying, "Gad, a troop shall raid him, but he shall raid at their heels." This prophecy alludes to the future military encounters of the tribe of Gad, emphasizing both conflict and eventual victory.

3. Symbolic and Prophetic Usage: In some instances, "troop" is used symbolically or prophetically. For example, in Isaiah 65:11, the prophet condemns those who forsake the Lord, saying, "But you who forsake the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who prepare a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny." Here, the term "troop" is translated as "Fortune," referring to a pagan deity, indicating the idolatrous practices of the people.

New Testament Context

While the specific term "troop" is less prevalent in the New Testament, the concept of organized groups or bands is evident. The Roman military presence in Judea during the time of Jesus and the apostles often involved troops or cohorts, as seen in the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:3).

Theological Implications

The use of "troop" in the Bible underscores the importance of community and collective action, whether in the context of warfare, tribal identity, or spiritual allegiance. It reflects the reality of conflict in the fallen world and the need for divine intervention and guidance. The narratives involving troops often highlight themes of loyalty, courage, and the ultimate triumph of God's purposes through His chosen leaders and people.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Israel, the organization of troops was essential for defense and conquest. The Israelites, like other ancient Near Eastern societies, relied on tribal and familial units to form their military forces. The concept of a troop, therefore, is deeply embedded in the socio-political and religious fabric of the biblical narrative, illustrating the interplay between divine providence and human agency in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.Troop

Isaiah 65:11. See GAD3

1. (n.) A collection of people; a company; a number; a multitude.

2. (n.) Soldiers, collectively; an army; -- now generally used in the plural.

3. (n.) Specifically, a small body of cavalry, light horse, or dragoons, consisting usually of about sixty men, commanded by a captain; the unit of formation of cavalry, corresponding to the company in infantry. Formerly, also, a company of horse artillery; a battery.

4. (n.) A company of stageplayers; a troupe.

5. (n.) A particular roll of the drum; a quick march.

6. (v. i.) To move in numbers; to come or gather in crowds or troops.

7. (v. i.) To march on; to go forward in haste.

TROOP

troop.

See ARMY.

5001. tagma -- that which has been arranged in order, spec. a ...
... division, class, group. From tasso; something orderly in arrangement (a troop),
ie (figuratively) a series or succession -- order. see GREEK tasso. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5001.htm - 7k1416. gedud -- a band, troop
... gedud. 1417 . a band, troop. Transliteration: gedud Phonetic Spelling: (ghed-ood')
Short Definition: bands. ... army, band of men, company, troop of robbers. ...
/hebrew/1416.htm - 6k

92. aguddah -- a band
... bunch, burden, troop. Feminine passive participle of an unused root (meaning to
bind); a band, bundle, knot, or arch -- bunch, burden, troop. 91, 92. ...
/hebrew/92.htm - 6k

2422a. chayyah -- community
... community. Transliteration: chayyah Short Definition: troop. Word Origin from chayah
Definition community NASB Word Usage troop (2). 2422, 2422a. ...
/hebrew/2422a.htm - 5k

1409. gad -- fortune, good fortune
... 1). troop. From guwd (in the sense of distributing); fortune -- troop. see
HEBREW guwd. 1408, 1409. gad. 1410 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1409.htm - 6k

1471. goy -- nation, people
... goy {go'-ee}; apparently from the same root as gevah (in the sense of massing);
a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or ...
/hebrew/1471.htm - 6k

4151. moad -- appointed place
... appointed time. From ya'ad; properly, an assembly (as in mow'ed); figuratively,
a troop -- appointed time. see HEBREW ya'ad. see HEBREW mow'ed. 4150, 4151. ...
/hebrew/4151.htm - 6k

1408. Gad -- "fortune," a Bab. god.
... god. Fortune, a Babylonian deity A variation of gad; Fortune, a Babylonian deity --
that troop. see HEBREW gad. 1407, 1408. Gad. 1409 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1408.htm - 5k

734. orach -- a way, path
... manner, highway. From 'arach; a well-trodden road (literally or figuratively); also
a caravan -- manner, path, race, rank, traveller, troop, (by-, high-)way. ...
/hebrew/734.htm - 6k

5803. Azgad -- "Gad is mighty," an Israelite name
... name NASB Word Usage Azgad (4). Azgad. From az and gad; stern troop; Azgad, an
Israelite -- Azgad. see HEBREW az. see HEBREW gad. 5802, 5803. Azgad. 5804 . ...
/hebrew/5803.htm - 6k

376. ish -- man
... this one (1), this one and that one (1), those (1), those who (3), tiller* (1),
together* (1), traders* (2), tradition* (1), traveler* (1), troop (1), warriors ...
/hebrew/376.htm - 7k

When Appius Told his Mother and his Sister what Augustus had Said ...
... So, therefore, as the sun rose on the nones of November in that year of the birth
of Jesus, they set out with a troop of horse on the Appian Way. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 19 when appius told.htm

The Dark was Lifting as Vergilius Entered the Field of Mars. ...
... Hard by the Tiber he joined a small troop of horse, and vaulting on the shaft
of his lance, mounted a white charger. ... The troop halted. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 11 the dark was.htm

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price. The Formation and ...
... down, exerting themselves to seize that one of them all which is the leader; for
they say that, when this one is captured, the catching of the troop subject to ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/7 the parable of the.htm

Letter clxix. Basil to Gregory.
... You have undertaken a kindly and charitable task in getting together the captive
troop of the insolent Glycerius (at present I must so write), and, so far as ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter clxix basil to gregory.htm

Herod's Veteran Soldiers Become Tumultuous. The Robberies of Judas ...
... He put a troop of armed men under each of these his brethren, and made use of them
as his generals and commanders, when he made his incursions, while he did ...
/.../chapter 4 herods veteran soldiers.htm

After Praising Judas' and Jonathan's Loftiness of Mind, the ...
... engaging in battle after having fought from sunrise till evening, he attacks and
quickly drives back the right wing, where he sees the strongest troop of the ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xli after praising judas.htm

Visits to Kinsale and Cork
... I afterward found, was owing to Mr. W"-, who snatched a stick out of man's hand,
and brandished it over his head, on which the whole troop valiantly ran away ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/visits to kinsale and cork.htm

"There, Baby!" Said Diamond; "I'M So Happy that I Can Only Sing ...
... Just as the foremost of the troop reached him, one or two of them fell, and the
rest with shouts of laughter came tumbling over them till they heaped up a ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 25 there baby said.htm

The Life of David Hackston of Rathillet.
... party), and had an active hand in the most part of the public transactions among
them, until that fatal day the 22d of June, where he and his troop of horse ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of david hackston.htm

Many Tumults under Cumanus, which were Composed by Quadratus. ...
... 5. But Cumanus took one troop of horsemen, called the troop of Sebaste, out of Cesarea,
and came to the assistance of those that were spoiled; he also seized ...
/.../chapter 12 many tumults under.htm

Troop (28 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TROOP. troop. See ARMY. ...Troop (28 Occurrences).
Genesis 30:11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad. ...
/t/troop.htm - 16k

Pairs (13 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 21:7 When he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop
of camels, he shall listen diligently with great attentiveness." (WEB JPS ASV ...
/p/pairs.htm - 10k

Raiding (11 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 30:8 David inquired of Yahweh, saying, "If I pursue after this troop, shall
I overtake them?" He answered him, "Pursue; for you shall surely overtake ...
/r/raiding.htm - 10k

Cornet (8 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A troop of cavalry; -- so called from its being accompanied by a
cornet player. 6. (n.) The standard of such a troop. 7. (n ...
/c/cornet.htm - 11k

Attentiveness (1 Occurrence)
... Isaiah 21:7 When he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop
of camels, he shall listen diligently with great attentiveness." (WEB). ...
/a/attentiveness.htm - 6k

Heels (11 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Genesis 49:19 Gad, a troop shall troop
upon him; but he shall troop upon their heel. (See NAS RSV NIV). ...
/h/heels.htm - 9k

Troops (92 Occurrences)
... And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a plot of ground
full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines. (See NIV). ...
/t/troops.htm - 34k

Party (47 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 30:8 David inquired of Yahweh, saying, "If I pursue after this troop, shall
I overtake them?" He answered him, "Pursue; for you shall surely overtake ...
/p/party.htm - 20k

Leap (20 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 22:30 For by you, I run against a troop. By my God, I leap over
a wall. ... Psalms 18:29 For by you, I advance through a troop. ...
/l/leap.htm - 13k

Leaped (10 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV). 2 Samuel 22:30 For by thee I have run through
a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. (KJV DBY WBS). ...
/l/leaped.htm - 9k

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