Topical Bible: Kings: had Power to Make War and Peace

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In the biblical narrative, kings held significant authority and responsibility, including the power to make war and peace. This authority was often seen as divinely sanctioned, with kings acting as God's appointed leaders over the nation of Israel and other kingdoms. The role of a king in making war and peace is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament, reflecting both the political and spiritual dimensions of their reigns.

Saul
Saul, the first king of Israel, was anointed by the prophet Samuel. His reign marked the transition from a loose confederation of tribes to a centralized monarchy. Saul's authority to wage war is evident in his battles against the Philistines and other surrounding nations. In 1 Samuel 14:47-48 , it is recorded, "After Saul had assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he routed them. He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them."

David
David, Saul's successor, is perhaps the most renowned king of Israel, known for his military prowess and his heart for God. David expanded Israel's borders and secured peace through strategic warfare. His campaigns against the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, and other nations are well-documented. In 2 Samuel 8:6 , it states, "Then David placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went." David's ability to make peace is also highlighted in his diplomatic relations, such as his treaty with Hiram, king of Tyre (2 Samuel 5:11).

Solomon
Solomon, David's son, is often remembered for his wisdom and the peace that characterized his reign. Unlike his father, Solomon's era was marked by relative peace and prosperity, largely due to his diplomatic efforts and alliances. 1 Kings 4:24 notes, "For Solomon had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates—over all the kingdoms from Tiphsah to Gaza—and he had peace on all sides." Solomon's ability to maintain peace allowed him to focus on building projects, including the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Jehoshaphat
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, is another example of a king who exercised the power to make war and peace. He strengthened Judah militarily and spiritually, seeking God's guidance in his decisions. In 2 Chronicles 20:30 , it is recorded, "And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side." His reliance on God during times of conflict, such as the battle against the Moabites and Ammonites, underscores the belief that true peace comes from divine intervention.

Hezekiah
Hezekiah, known for his religious reforms and trust in God, also wielded the power to make war and peace. His reign was marked by the Assyrian threat, and his faith in God led to a miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem. 2 Kings 19:35 recounts, "That night 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!" Hezekiah's leadership during this crisis exemplifies the king's role in seeking divine aid for peace.

Josiah
Josiah, another reforming king of Judah, sought to restore the covenant with God and rid the land of idolatry. His reign was characterized by a return to the worship of Yahweh and efforts to unify the people under God's law. While his reign ended in conflict at the Battle of Megiddo, Josiah's commitment to God's commands highlights the spiritual aspect of a king's authority over war and peace.

Throughout the biblical narrative, the power of kings to make war and peace is intricately linked to their relationship with God and their obedience to His commands. This authority was not merely political but carried profound spiritual implications, reflecting the belief that true peace and victory come from alignment with God's will.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 11:5-7
And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What ails the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The First Kings.
... imitate their pagan neighbors in the pomp and power of royalty. ... the five hundred
years which followed, the successive kings of the two realms had, the most ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/the first kings.htm

Christ's Kingly Office
... too strong for us, they are not for Christ to conquer; for by his Spirit he can
break the power of sin ... When Joshua had conquered five kings, he caused ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/5 christs kingly office.htm

How Bacchides, the General of Demetrius's Army, Made an Expedition ...
... the high priesthood on Judas; who hearing of the power of the ... and Libya; and that,
besides these, they had subdued Greece, and their kings, Perseus, and ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 how bacchides the.htm

The Jewish Rebellions
... Peter had warned them) by their own fleshly lusts, which ... that he is actually exercising
his power, and governing ... of nations is determined, not by kings, not by ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon xv the jewish rebellions.htm

The Career of the Antichrist
... They had witnessed his death. They stood awe-struck, no doubt, at the downfall of
this King of kings. ... and to this end he will put forth all his power to banish ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/the career of the antichrist.htm

The Revelation and Career of the Anti-Christ.
... He will be a king of kings. ... And it was given unto him to make war with the saints
and to ... on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/4 the revelation and career.htm

The Scope of the Apocalypse is Indicated by Its Place in the ...
... See also 2 Kings 2:4 and 10:14. "And it was given unto him to make war with the ... into
newness of life, so of the Anti-spirit we are told, "He had power to give ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/the scope of the apocalypse.htm

And Now the Time is Come for us to Consider the Works of Our ...
... and those holy choirs of virgins who had dedicated themselves ... that they should be
brought before kings and rulers ... Who else has power to make war after death, to ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xvii and now the.htm

Book ii Then for a While She Held Her Peace. ...
... in tragedies but for the happiness of kings overturned by ... Regulus, [20] who had cast
into chains many a ... insatiable thirst of avarice: nor can power ever make ...
/.../boethius/the consolation of philosophy/book ii then for a.htm

How Joshua, the Commander of the Hebrews, Made War with The
... took notice also, that thirty-one of those kings that ventured ... and impossible it
is to overrun his power, and the ... So Joshua, when he had thus discoursed to them ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how joshua the.htm