Topical Bible: Armies: Compared to Flies

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In the biblical narrative, armies are sometimes metaphorically compared to flies to convey the overwhelming and pervasive nature of military forces. This imagery is used to illustrate the vast numbers and the potential nuisance or destruction that such forces can bring upon a land or people. The comparison to flies emphasizes the swarming, relentless, and often uncontrollable nature of these armies.

One of the most notable instances of this metaphor is found in the book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 7:18 , the prophet Isaiah speaks of a time when the Lord will summon armies from distant lands: "On that day the LORD will whistle to the flies from the distant streams of Egypt and to the bees from the land of Assyria." Here, the flies represent the Egyptian forces, while the bees symbolize the Assyrian armies. This vivid imagery underscores the impending invasion and the divine orchestration behind these events. The flies, in their multitude, suggest an overwhelming presence that cannot be easily dismissed or ignored.

The use of flies as a metaphor for armies also reflects the broader biblical theme of divine judgment and the instruments God uses to accomplish His purposes. In the context of Isaiah, the summoning of these armies serves as a form of judgment against the people of Judah for their disobedience and lack of faith. The comparison to flies highlights the inevitability and the comprehensive nature of this judgment, as flies are known for their ability to infiltrate and cover every surface.

Furthermore, the metaphor of armies as flies can be seen as a reminder of the transient and ultimately powerless nature of human military might in the face of divine sovereignty. Just as flies can be swatted away or driven off, so too can armies be dispersed by the hand of God. This serves as a humbling reminder of the limitations of human power and the supremacy of God's will.

In summary, the biblical comparison of armies to flies serves as a powerful metaphor to convey the overwhelming, pervasive, and divinely orchestrated nature of military forces. It reflects themes of judgment, the limitations of human power, and the ultimate sovereignty of God over the affairs of nations.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 7:18,19
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Prophet Joel.
... From this passage, especially when compared with Psalm ... in a continuous description,
as swarms of flies and bees ... The comparison of hostile armies with locusts is ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet joel.htm

Book 9 Footnotes
... Greeks, from his supposed power over flies, in driving ... who have been great captains
of armies, and been ... texts particularly set down and compared together in ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 9 footnotes.htm

The King in his Beauty
... boy upon some wretched oaten straw as compared with the ... teach Thee terrible things.'
There are no armies or allies ... bright arrow on the string; it flies; he looks ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the king in his beauty.htm

God's Providence
... and every Christian has some angel who flies about him ... of the minor parts of God's
works compared with the ... wheel goes on; and though a thousand armies stand to ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 54 1908/gods providence.htm

The Fourth vision "On Earth"
... The woman (ie, the nation) flies because of the persecution of ... woman when it swallowed
up the armies of Pharaoh ... We have compared the character of the first, and ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the fourth vision on earth.htm

The Saviour's Many Crowns
... Though small the empire compared with others, yet from this ... his might have put to
flight the armies of the ... See, he flies to the throne, and stooping there, he ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the saviours many crowns.htm

Things that Accompany Salvation
... I compared Salvation to a rich and costly treasure, which ... an everlasting passage
by which the armies of the ... Zeal, that flies round the world with wings swifter ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/things that accompany salvation.htm

Essay vi. "The Way of Ancient Ordinance, Though it Winds, is yet ...
... Direct it flies and rapid, Shattering that it may reach ... inhabitants (he would state)
was prodigious compared with the ... as the fortunes of the two armies are now ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/essay vi the way of.htm

Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
... the Zodiac), each having 30 chiefs of armies, each chief ... It is added that Michael
flies in one fight ... on the subject of Angels represents, as compared with that ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xii the baptism of.htm

The First Theban Empire
... at the disposal of the best-equipped armies, which knew ... subordinate position of these
personages as compared with that ... the South takes ship and flies, all men ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm