The Armies of Israel
88 passages listed in Nave’s Topical Bible and Torrey’s New Topical Textbook. Verse text: Berean Standard Bible; links open in your translation.
48 sections
- Ark of God Frequently Brought With
- Attended by Priest with Trumpets
- Before Going to War were Numbered and Reviewed
- Before Going to War: Consulted the Lord
- Before Going to War: Encouraged by Their Commanders
- Before Going to War: Required to Keep from Iniquity
- Bravery and Fidelity In, Rewarded
- Called: Composed of Infantry
- Called: Horsemen and Chariots Introduced Into, After David's Reign
- Called: The Armies of the Living God
- Called: The Host
- Collected by Extraordinary Means
- Collected by Sound of Trumpets
- Collected by Special Messengers
- Commanded by the Captain of the Host
- Congratulated on Returning Victorious
- Directed in Their Movements by God
- Disbanded After War
- Divided Into: Companies of Thousands
- Divided Into: Three Divisions
- Divided Into: Van and Rear
- Educated in the Art of War
- Enroled by the Chief Scribe
- First Mention of
- Inferior officers of, Appointed by The Captain of the Host
- Inferior officers of, Appointed by The Chief officers
- Inferior officers of, Appointed by The King
- Men Selected From, for Difficult Enterprises
- Mode of Supplying by Presents
- Mode of Supplying: Contribution Levied
- Mode of Supplying: Food Brought by Themselves
- Mode of Supplying: Food Sent by Their Families
- Often Disposed to Battle with Judgment
- Often Led by the King in Person
- Often Supplied with Arms from Public Armouries
- Part of, Retained in Times of Peace by the Kings
- Persons Exempted from Serving in Who had Built a House
- Persons Exempted from Serving in Who had Planted a Vineyard
- Persons Exempted from Serving in Who Were Lately Betrothed
- Persons Exempted from Serving in Who Were Newly Married
- Persons Liable to Serve In
- Praises of God often Sung Before
- Purified on Returning from War
- Refusing to Join, often Punished
- Refusing to Join, Stigmatised
- Sometimes Consisted of the Whole Nation
- Strict Discipline Observed In
- The Fearful Allowed to Leave
Ark of God Frequently Brought With
- Joshua 6:6–7 So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark of the LORD.” …
- 1 Samuel 4:4–5 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. …
- 2 Samuel 11:11 Uriah answered, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers are camped in the open field. How can I go to my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live, and …
- 2 Samuel 15:24 Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had passed out of the city.
Attended by Priest with Trumpets
- Numbers 10:9 When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who attacks you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God and saved from your enemies.
- Numbers 31:6 And Moses sent the thousand from each tribe into battle, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who took with him the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.
- 2 Chronicles 13:13–14 Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to ambush from the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah, the ambush was behind them. …
Before Going to War were Numbered and Reviewed
- 2 Samuel 18:1–2 Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of thousands and of hundreds. …
- 2 Samuel 18:4 “I will do whatever seems best to you,” the king replied. So he stood beside the gate, while all the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands.
- 1 Kings 10:15 not including the revenue from the merchants, traders, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land.
- 1 Kings 10:27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.
Before Going to War: Consulted the Lord
- Judges 1:1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”
- Judges 20:27–28 And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, …
Before Going to War: Encouraged by Their Commanders
- 2 Chronicles 20:20 Early in the morning they got up and left for the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Hear me, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be upheld; believe in …
Before Going to War: Required to Keep from Iniquity
- Deuteronomy 23:9 When you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every wicked thing.
Bravery and Fidelity In, Rewarded
- Joshua 15:16 And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.”
- 1 Samuel 17:25 Now the men of Israel had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out to defy Israel? To the man who kills him the king will give great riches. And he will give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father’s …
- 1 Samuel 18:17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of …
- 2 Samuel 18:11 “You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed. “Why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt!”
- 1 Chronicles 11:6 Now David had said, “Whoever is the first to strike down a Jebusite will become chief commander.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became the chief.
Called: Composed of Infantry
- Numbers 11:21 But Moses replied, “Here I am among 600,000 men on foot, yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’
- Judges 5:15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.
Called: Horsemen and Chariots Introduced Into, After David's Reign
- 1 Kings 1:5 At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.
- 1 Kings 4:26 Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses.
Called: The Armies of the Living God
- 1 Samuel 17:26 David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
Called: The Host
- Deuteronomy 23:9 When you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every wicked thing.
- 1 Samuel 28:19 Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
Collected by Extraordinary Means
- Judges 19:29 When he reached his house, he picked up a knife, took hold of his concubine, cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel.
- Judges 20:1 Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.
- 1 Samuel 11:7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of …
Collected by Sound of Trumpets
- Judges 3:27 On arriving in Seirah, he blew the ram’s horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hills, and he became their leader.
- Judges 6:34 So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him.
Collected by Special Messengers
- Judges 6:35 Calling them to arms, Gideon sent messengers throughout Manasseh, as well as Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, so that they came up to meet him.
- 2 Samuel 20:14 Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him.
Commanded by the Captain of the Host
- 2 Samuel 2:8 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,
- 2 Samuel 17:25 Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.
- 2 Samuel 20:23 Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;
Congratulated on Returning Victorious
- 1 Samuel 18:6–7 As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments. …
- Exodus 15:1–21 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea. …
Directed in Their Movements by God
- Joshua 8:1–2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. See, I have delivered into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. …
- Judges 1:2 “Judah shall go up,” answered the LORD. “Indeed, I have delivered the land into their hands.”
- 2 Samuel 5:25 So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
- 1 Chronicles 14:16 So David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
Disbanded After War
- 1 Samuel 13:2 He chose for himself three thousand men of Israel: Two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the troops he sent away, each …
- 1 Kings 22:36 As the sun was setting, the cry rang out in the army: “Every man to his own city, and every man to his own land!”
Divided Into: Companies of Thousands
- Numbers 31:14 But Moses was angry with the officers of the army — the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds — who were returning from the battle.
- 2 Kings 1:9 Then King Ahaziah sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. So the captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down!’”
- 2 Kings 1:11 So the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. And the captain said to Elijah, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down at once!’”
- 1 Chronicles 13:1 Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds.
- 1 Chronicles 27:1 This is the list of the Israelites— the heads of families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter concerning the divisions on rotating military duty each month …
Divided Into: Three Divisions
- Judges 7:16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each man a ram’s horn in one hand and a large jar in the other, containing a torch.
- 1 Samuel 11:11 The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no …
Divided Into: Van and Rear
- Joshua 6:9 While the horns continued to sound, the armed troops marched ahead of the priests who blew the horns, and the rear guard followed the ark.
Educated in the Art of War
- Isaiah 2:4 Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.
- Micah 4:3 Then He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, …
Enroled by the Chief Scribe
- 2 Kings 25:19 Of those still in the city, he took a court official who had been appointed over the men of war, as well as five royal advisors. He also took the scribe of the captain of the army, who had enlisted the people of the land, and …
First Mention of
- Exodus 7:4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay My hand on Egypt, and by mighty acts of judgment I will bring the divisions of My people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.
Inferior officers of, Appointed by The Captain of the Host
- 2 Samuel 18:11 “You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed. “Why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt!”
- 2 Kings 4:13 and Elisha said to Gehazi, “Now tell her, ‘Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’” “I have a home among my own people,” she replied.
Inferior officers of, Appointed by The Chief officers
- Deuteronomy 20:9 When the officers have finished addressing the army, they are to appoint commanders to lead it.
Inferior officers of, Appointed by The King
- 2 Samuel 18:1 Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of thousands and of hundreds.
- 2 Chronicles 25:5 Then Amaziah gathered the people of Judah and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and of hundreds. And he numbered those twenty years of age or older throughout Judah and Benjamin and found …
Men Selected From, for Difficult Enterprises
- Exodus 17:9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.”
- Numbers 31:5–6 So a thousand men were recruited from each tribe of Israel— twelve thousand armed for war. …
- Joshua 7:4 So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai.
- Joshua 8:3 So Joshua and the whole army set out to attack Ai. Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out at night
- Judges 7:5–6 So Gideon brought the men down to the water, and the LORD said to him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink.” …
- 2 Samuel 17:1 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
Mode of Supplying by Presents
- 2 Samuel 17:27–29 When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim. …
Mode of Supplying: Contribution Levied
- Judges 8:5 So Gideon said to the men of Succoth, “Please give my troops some bread, for they are exhausted, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
- 1 Samuel 25:4–8 While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. …
Mode of Supplying: Food Brought by Themselves
- Joshua 1:11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you will cross the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”
Mode of Supplying: Food Sent by Their Families
- 1 Samuel 17:17 One day Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp.
Often Disposed to Battle with Judgment
- 2 Samuel 10:9 When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans.
Often Led by the King in Person
- 1 Samuel 8:20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”
- 1 Samuel 15:4–5 So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim — 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. …
- 2 Samuel 12:29 So David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; and he fought against it and captured it.
- 1 Kings 22:1–53 Then three years passed without war between Aram and Israel. …
Often Supplied with Arms from Public Armouries
- 2 Chronicles 11:12 He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.
- 2 Chronicles 26:14 Uzziah supplied the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and slingstones.
Part of, Retained in Times of Peace by the Kings
- 1 Samuel 13:1–2 Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years. …
- 1 Chronicles 27:1–15 This is the list of the Israelites— the heads of families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter concerning the divisions on rotating military duty each month …
Persons Exempted from Serving in Who had Built a House
- Deuteronomy 20:5 Furthermore, the officers are to address the army, saying, “Has any man built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man dedicate it.
Persons Exempted from Serving in Who had Planted a Vineyard
- Deuteronomy 20:6 Has any man planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy its fruit? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man enjoy its fruit.
Persons Exempted from Serving in Who Were Lately Betrothed
- Deuteronomy 20:7 Has any man become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man marry her.”
Persons Exempted from Serving in Who Were Newly Married
- Deuteronomy 24:5 If a man is newly married, he must not be sent to war or be pressed into any duty. For one year he is free to stay at home and bring joy to the wife he has married.
Persons Liable to Serve In
- Numbers 1:2–3 “Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. …
Praises of God often Sung Before
- 2 Chronicles 20:21–22 Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving …
Purified on Returning from War
- Numbers 31:19–24 All of you who have killed a person or touched the dead are to remain outside the camp for seven days. On the third day and the seventh day you are to purify both yourselves and your captives. …
Refusing to Join, often Punished
- Judges 21:5 The Israelites asked, “Who among all the tribes of Israel did not come to the assembly before the LORD?” For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to come up before the LORD at Mizpah would surely be put to death.
- 1 Samuel 11:7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of …
Refusing to Join, Stigmatised
- Judges 5:15–17 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision. …
Sometimes Consisted of the Whole Nation
- Judges 20:11 So all the men of Israel gathered as one man, united against the city.
- 1 Samuel 11:7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of …
Strict Discipline Observed In
- Joshua 7:16–21 So Joshua arose early the next morning and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected. …
- 1 Samuel 14:24–44 Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food. …
The Fearful Allowed to Leave
- Deuteronomy 20:8 Then the officers shall speak further to the army, saying, “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him return home, so that the hearts of his brothers will not melt like his own.”
- Judges 7:3 Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the men: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand of them turned back, but ten thousand remained.
Related topics
ArmiesThe Armies of Israel with the Aid of God All-PowerfulThe Armies of Israel without God Easily OvercomeJoy of Moses and the Israelites, when Pharaoh and his Army Were DestroyedPsalms of Moses, Celebrating the Deliverance at the Red SeaEpic
Topics: Nave’s Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey’s New Topical Textbook (1897), public domain, via the Berean Bible topical index.