Topical Bible: Armies: Often Destroyed by Their Enemies

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Throughout the biblical narrative, the theme of armies being destroyed by their enemies serves as a powerful reminder of the sovereignty of God and the consequences of disobedience and pride. The Bible provides numerous accounts where armies, despite their might and numbers, fall before their adversaries due to divine intervention or moral failings.

1. The Army of Pharaoh at the Red Sea: One of the most dramatic examples is the destruction of Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea. As the Israelites fled Egypt, Pharaoh pursued them with his chariots and horsemen. However, God intervened, parting the sea for the Israelites and then bringing the waters back upon the Egyptian army. "The waters returned and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had chased the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived" (Exodus 14:28).

2. The Midianites Defeated by Gideon: In the Book of Judges, Gideon leads a small force of 300 men against the vast Midianite army. Through God's guidance, Gideon's army achieves victory not by conventional warfare but through a surprise attack involving trumpets and torches. The Midianites turn on each other in confusion, leading to their destruction. This account highlights that victory comes not by might but by the Lord's hand (Judges 7:22).

3. The Assyrian Army Defeated at Jerusalem: During the reign of King Hezekiah, the Assyrian army, led by Sennacherib, besieged Jerusalem. In response to Hezekiah's prayer, God sent an angel who struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night. "So the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!" (2 Kings 19:35). This event underscores God's protection over His people when they rely on Him.

4. The Philistines and the Ark of the Covenant: The Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant during a battle with Israel, leading to the defeat of the Israelite army. However, the presence of the Ark brought calamity upon the Philistines, demonstrating that victory over God's people is temporary and fraught with divine repercussions (1 Samuel 4:10-11).

5. The Defeat of Saul's Army: King Saul's disobedience and failure to fully trust in God led to the defeat of his army by the Philistines. In the battle at Mount Gilboa, Saul's forces were overwhelmed, and he ultimately took his own life. "The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua" (1 Samuel 31:2). This account serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of turning away from God's commands.

6. The Babylonian Conquest of Judah: The armies of Babylon, under King Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, leading to the exile of the Jewish people. This destruction was a direct result of Judah's persistent idolatry and failure to heed the warnings of the prophets. "He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building" (2 Kings 25:9).

These accounts collectively illustrate that the fate of armies is ultimately in God's hands. Whether through miraculous deliverance or devastating defeat, the biblical narrative consistently points to the importance of faithfulness to God and reliance on His power rather than human strength.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 17:13
And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
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Joshua 10:10,20
And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goes up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and to Makkedah.
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Judges 11:33
And he smote them from Aroer, even till you come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and to the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.
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2 Samuel 18:7
Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
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1 Kings 20:21
And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
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Library

Concerning the Seditions at Jerusalem and what Terrible Miseries ...
... to come into that court, were yet often destroyed by this ... that they should very soon
be destroyed; but for ... thousand men, chosen out of the armies at Alexandria ...
/.../chapter 1 concerning the seditions.htm

The Armour of God
... he calls them"who enslaved and destroyed the reason ... and conquer there what the Roman
armies could not ... the stones, arrows, and darts" fiery darts often, as St ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon xi the armour of god.htm

That Astrology, Soothsaying, and Similar Arts are the Invention of ...
... But as often as dangers threaten, they profess that they ... by craft and valour despatched
two armies of the ... For, being destroyed by their own vices, they rage ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xvii that astrology soothsaying and.htm

How the Amalekites and the Neighbouring Nations, Made War with the ...
... 4. So the armies joined battle; and it came to a ... as he let down his hands, so often
were his ... foretold that the Amalekites should utterly be destroyed; and that ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how the amalekites.htm

The Thirty Years' War. AD 1618-1650.
... than four-fifths of the property were destroyed, [20] and ... only taking what they wanted,
but often wantonly destroying ... only once or twice visited by the armies. ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/chapter viii the thirty years.htm

The Waldenses.
... faith, until the churches of Britain were destroyed, or forced ... Often when pursued
by their enemies, the strength of ... the praise of God, and the armies of Rome ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /4 the waldenses.htm

The Waldenses
... faith, until the churches of Britain were destroyed, or forced ... Often when pursued
by their enemies, the strength of ... the praise of God, and the armies of Rome ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 4 the waldenses.htm

On the Holy Ghost and his Descent Upon the Apostles
... hail, that fell in large pieces and destroyed all their ... to be a great general, with
powerful armies, who would ... Often too, when He preached to the people, the ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 9 on the holy.htm

Jehoshaphat
... Not by disciplined armies and fenced cities, but by a ... Egypt, but they turned from
them, and destroyed them not ... One who in past ages had so often interposed to ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 15 jehoshaphat.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem.
... ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies," said Jesus ... prophet, "O Israel, thou
hast destroyed thyself;" "for ... 48) Their sufferings are often represented as a ...
/.../1 the destruction of jerusalem.htm