Topical Bible: Agriculture or Farming: War Destructive To

Bible > Topical > Agriculture or Farming

◄ Agriculture or Farming: War Destructive To ►

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

Topical Encyclopedia

Agriculture, a foundational aspect of ancient and modern societies, is frequently depicted in the Bible as a source of sustenance, prosperity, and divine blessing. However, the destructive impact of war on agriculture is a recurring theme throughout the biblical narrative. The Bible provides numerous accounts illustrating how warfare devastates the land, disrupts farming activities, and leads to famine and hardship.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites' agricultural practices were often disrupted by invading armies. The Book of Judges recounts the Midianite invasions during the time of Gideon, where the Midianites "would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the land as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey" (Judges 6:4). This passage highlights the deliberate destruction of crops and livestock, which were essential for the Israelites' survival.

The prophet Joel vividly describes the devastation of agriculture due to an invading army, using the imagery of locusts to symbolize the destructive force: "The fields are ruined, the ground is mournful; for the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, and the oil fails" (Joel 1:10). This imagery underscores the totality of destruction that war can bring to the agricultural landscape, affecting not only the immediate food supply but also the long-term economic stability of the region.

In the historical books, the siege warfare tactics employed by invading forces often included the destruction of crops and orchards. During the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, the Rabshakeh taunted the people by promising them that if they surrendered, they would "eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern" (2 Kings 18:31). This statement implies that the siege had already disrupted normal agricultural activities, threatening the people's food security.

The prophetic literature also reflects on the consequences of war on agriculture. In Jeremiah, the prophet laments the desolation of the land due to Babylonian invasions: "The whole land will be desolate, but I will not finish it off. Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above grow dark" (Jeremiah 4:27-28). The imagery of a mourning earth and darkened heavens conveys the profound impact of war on the natural order and agricultural productivity.

The New Testament, while less focused on agricultural themes, still acknowledges the broader implications of war on society, including its impact on farming. In the apocalyptic discourse of Matthew 24, Jesus warns of wars and rumors of wars, which are part of the tribulations that will precede the end times. Such conflicts inevitably disrupt the normal rhythms of life, including agriculture, leading to scarcity and suffering.

Throughout the biblical narrative, the destruction of agriculture due to war serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of human endeavors in the face of conflict. The Bible consistently portrays agriculture as a divine blessing, and its destruction as a consequence of human sin and strife. The recurring theme of war's impact on farming underscores the importance of peace and stability for the flourishing of agricultural life and the well-being of society.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 50:16
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handles the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 51:23
I will also break in pieces with you the shepherd and his flock; and with you will I break in pieces the farmer and his yoke of oxen; and with you will I break in pieces captains and rulers.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

What Carey did for Science --Founder of the Agricultural and ...
... proportionally simple and wretched farming utensils," the ... and a local manufacture
since the Crimean War. ... abundance which an improved agriculture would diffuse ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter xii what carey did.htm

Answer to Eunomius' Second Book .
... of years exceeding those of the Trojan war, has fabricated ... to use it, any more than
that farming should be ... What of agriculture, of navigation, and of the other ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/answer to eunomius second book.htm