Topical Bible: The Armies of Israel: Collected by Extraordinary Means

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The formation and mobilization of the armies of Israel throughout biblical history often involved extraordinary means, reflecting divine intervention, prophetic guidance, and unique circumstances that underscored Israel's reliance on God for military success. This entry explores several key instances where the armies of Israel were gathered or strengthened through remarkable methods.

1. Gideon's Army (Judges 6-7):
One of the most notable examples of an army collected by extraordinary means is the account of Gideon. Called by God to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Midianites, Gideon initially amassed an army of 32,000 men. However, God instructed Gideon to reduce the number to ensure that Israel would recognize the victory as divine rather than human achievement. Through a series of tests, including the famous "lapping" test at the water, Gideon's army was reduced to just 300 men. Judges 7:7 states, "The LORD said to Gideon, 'With the three hundred men who lapped I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the others go home.'"

2. Saul's Army (1 Samuel 11):
King Saul's early reign provides another example of an army gathered under extraordinary circumstances. When the Ammonites besieged Jabesh-gilead, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he rallied the Israelites by sending pieces of oxen throughout the land as a call to arms. This dramatic gesture unified the tribes, and Saul quickly assembled an army to defeat the Ammonites. 1 Samuel 11:6-7 describes this event: "When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, 'This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.' Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they turned out as one man."

3. Jehoshaphat's Army (2 Chronicles 20):
King Jehoshaphat faced a formidable coalition of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites. In response, he proclaimed a fast and sought the LORD's guidance. The Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel, who prophesied that the battle belonged to God. The army of Judah was instructed to march out, not to fight, but to witness the LORD's deliverance. As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the enemy, leading to their self-destruction. 2 Chronicles 20:17 records the divine assurance: "You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you."

4. David's Mighty Men (2 Samuel 23; 1 Chronicles 11):
David's rise to power was marked by the gathering of a group of extraordinary warriors known as David's Mighty Men. These men were drawn to David during his time as a fugitive from King Saul. Their loyalty and valor were instrumental in establishing David's kingdom. The accounts in 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11 highlight their remarkable feats and the divine favor that accompanied David's leadership. These warriors were not only skilled in battle but also divinely appointed to support God's chosen king.

5. The Army of the Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37):
While not a historical army in the traditional sense, the vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 symbolizes the miraculous restoration of Israel. In this vision, the prophet Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy to a valley filled with dry bones, which then come to life as a vast army. This vision represents God's promise to restore and revive the nation of Israel, emphasizing His power to bring life and strength from desolation. Ezekiel 37:10 states, "So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet—a vast army."

Throughout these accounts, the armies of Israel were often gathered and empowered through divine intervention, prophetic direction, and acts of faith. These extraordinary means served to demonstrate that Israel's true strength lay not in numbers or military might, but in their covenant relationship with the LORD, who fought on their behalf.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 19:29
And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 20:1
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to the LORD in Mizpeh.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 11:7
And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whoever comes not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
... of locusts are represented simply hostile armies, must be ... two years had elapsed,
that he collected his prophecies ... captivity of his people of Israel, and plant ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxiii the twelve minor.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1800, to the End of ...
... mayor of the city, a lawless mob collected to avenge ... own) ardently affectionate as
a mother in Israel,' few of ... the people that he "ruled in the armies of heaven ...
/.../chapter 5 from the close.htm

Independence of Christianity
... Who delivered Israel from the Philistines? ... and advance of the church are neither
to be accomplished by the collected might of armies, corporations, nor ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/independence of christianity.htm

The Hebrew Prophecies.
... was expressed that the first books collected by Nehemiah ... that is to be ruler in Israel,
whose goings ... of the great Assyrian power before whose armies she finally ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter v the hebrew prophecies.htm

Pricked in their Heart
... The preacher himself was self-collected, calm, courteous, and ... received him not."
As a nation, Israel had rejected ... of the stars; he rules the armies of heaven. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/pricked in their heart.htm

The Royal Marriage Feast.
... and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed ... When Israel rejected Christ, God rejected
Israel, and called ... which that motley company was collected and introduced ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xii the royal marriage feast.htm

The Mystery
... kind when they were about to conduct Israel out of ... former; it is not customary for
such armies to be ... often quoted, Apomasar or Achmet, has collected from the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the mystery.htm

The Prophet Joel.
... In Joel, moreover, everything is collected around the person ... Do land armies ever
perish in the sea, and ... it is distinctly indicated that Israel's visitation by ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet joel.htm

Letter Xl. St. Ambrose Begs Theodosius to Listen to Him, as He ...
... Thee a watchman unto the house of Israel, in order ... that he himself kindled the fire,
[3557] collected the crowd ... They have destroyed their own armies, and wish to ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/letter xl st ambrose begs.htm

The Preacher as a Man of the Word.
... where are the empires whose armies were making the world ... the course of history"about
"what Israel ought to do ... of thought has generally to be collected as gold ...
/.../stalker/the preacher and his models/lecture iv the preacher as.htm