It was with the establishment of the kingdom that a standing army was first formed, at which time the title of Jehovah as Lord of Hosts also appeared. 1 Samuel 1:3 Saul had his selected band of 3000 1 Samuel 13:2 , to which he added choice soldiers whenever he found them 1 Samuel 14:52 and they became his personal body-guard. 1 Samuel 24:2 David before he came to the throne had a company of about 400 men 1 Samuel 22:2, who were soon increased to 600 1 Samuel 23:13; 25:13, and when he became king we find him attended by the Cherethites and Pelethites, and 600 men who came after him from Gath 2 Samuel 15:18, and he had 'mighty men' to attend him on the right hand and on the left. 2 Samuel 16:6; 20:7; 23:8 But beside these, according to 1 Chronicles 27:1, he maintained in readiness for active service a large army of which 24,000 were on duty each month , making a total of 288,000 men in constant training for war. 

What Davids intention was in taking the numbers of the people is not made clear, but it may have been done with a view of enlarging this army by subjecting more men to taxes. According to the numbers recorded 2 Samuel 24:9 this might easily have been done, for there were set down in Israel 800,000 men and in Judah 500,000, while the total in 1 Chronicles 21:5 is still greater, viz. 1,100,000 men in Israel and 470,000 in Judah. 

Of Solomon's army we do not have much information. He was a man of peace, due to his wealth he was able to afford a full time army. It was during this period that the calvary and chariots were added to the Israelite army 1 Kings 10:26, and we are told that from his trade with Egypt he was able to supply chariots and horses to the kings around him.

Reheboam was able to raise a considerable force 1 Kings 12:21 after the revolt of the ten tribes, and Asa a still larger one. 2 Chronicles 14:8 Jehoshaphat we are told had a large army 2 Chronicles 17:14-18 and there was an army under Athaliah. 2 Kings 11:4 In Amaziah's reign the number of native troops recorded is not so large 2 Chronicles 25:5,6, but he hired a supplement of 100,000 from the Northern kingdom. Uzziahs army 2 Chronicles 26:13 was numerous and well equipped, and in all these cases the numbers are very large compared with the extent of the country. But Palestine was, during the regal period, exposed to inroads from the North and from the South, owing to the wars between Assyria and Egypt. Hence these large numbers of trained soldiers may have been a necessity.

New Testament Armies
Roman Centurion
Roman Siege Machine
Roman Siege Machine
Roman Catapult Machine
During the New Testament period the troops serving in Palestine were Roman and their organisation that of the Roman army. The 'band', mentioned several times in the New Testament, was a cohort, the tenth part of a legion; the officers the usual centurions, but the spearmen, spoken of Acts 23:23, appear, from their name, to have been some special kind of troops. They are not mentioned in any accounts of the Roman army, but were probably of the nature of 'lancers'.

Organisation
The first clear mention of a military organisation among the Israelites comes during the time of David 2 Samuel 18:1,2, where the troops are divided into thousands and hundreds, and the army arranged under three leaders, in three, apparently equal parts. No doubt this continued throughout the whole history of Israel. The Law of Moses allowed for certain exemptions from service for 'such as were building houses, or had betrothed wives, or were planting vineyards, or were fearful.' Deuteronomy 20:5 The army of Jehoshaphat, however, was divided 2 Chronicles 17:14-18 into five unequal divisions each with its separate commander. But the division into three bodies is the most common arrangement. Judges 7:16; 1 Samuel 11:11 Further support for this can be found in one of the titles (shalish) of the officers, usually rendered captain' Exodus 14:7; 2 Samuel 23:8; 2 Kings 10:25, points by its meaning to his having charge of a third part of the troops.

The commander-in-chief was called captain of the host', and from the history of Davids reign we learn how important a person he could be. 2 Samuel 2:8,9; 8:16; 14:1-23; 19:5 The person whose office is rendered 'scribe in the Old Testament narrative 2 Samuel 8:17 probably had charge of the military lists.

Strategy
Of strategy there was very little. Sometimes the army would pretend to run away in hopes that the enemy would be drawn from their stronghold, and surprised by an ambush from the rear. Sometimes the enemy was surrounded, and attacked from a surprised position. 2 Samuel 5:23 Sometimes spies were used to provide valuable information of numbers and position of the enemy. 1 Samuel 26:4

Hezekiah's Tunnel 
In besieging a city the plan appointed for the Israelites Deuteronomy 20:20 was to cast a mound or bulwark against it, from which they might hurl their weapon against the city. But in their history we rarely read of them doing this 2 Samuel 20:15, although it is frequently mentioned as the practice of their enemies, or threatened as a punishment by the prophets. 2 Kings 19:32; Isaiah 29:3; Jeremiah 6:6; Ezekiel 26:8

Weapons of Offence
For offence the Israelites used several weapons.

Swords
Bronze Weapons fromthe time of the Exodus
Swords Genesis 34:25; Exodus 32:27; Joshua 10:11; 1 Samuel 25:13, were carried in sheaths 1 Samuel 17:51 and hung by a girdle 1 Samuel 25:13; Psalm 45:3 around the waist. These swords were usually the size of a dagger.

Spears
Canaanite spears & axeheads
They had several kinds of spears Joshua 8:18; 1 Samuel 17:45; 1 Chronicles 12:24, which varied in size and weight. These were used in hand to hand combat or thrown. Numbers 25:7-8; 2 Chronicles 11:12

Bows and arrows
Bows and arrows 1 Kings 22:34; 1 Chronicles 12:2 were also used. The arrows were carried in a quiver. Genesis 27:3 They would use several different types of arrow heads. Sometimes they used vanes or placed barbs on the ends. The bow were of a simple construction in Israel, while the Assyrians had a strong laminated bow which gave them great power. 

Sling shot
Slingstones
Some among the people, notably the Benjamites Judges 20:16, were expert in the use of the sling, and David's slaughter of Goliath is an example of the excellent use of this simple weapon. The sling would normally throw a stone about the size of an orange with excellent accuracy.

Weapons of Defence

For the protection of the body we read of several pieces of armour.

Breastplate
Breastplate of Roman Soldier
Breastplates 1 Kings 22:34, coats of mail, which were pieces of metal sewn on a shirt. 1 Samuel 17:5 These were not standard issue for the common foot soldier until latter times. Sauls armour would be unique to the king. 

Helmets
Helmet on Roman Soldier
The Assyrians had helmets which were tall and covered their ears for protection. 1 Samuel 17:38 They were first provided for all of Israel by King Uzziah. 2 Chronicles 26:14 They were originally made of leather then as Israel learned to forge metal they were made of bronze or Iron. They came in many different shapes and patterns. 

Greaves
These were protective armour for the legs. Goliath wore them made of bronze. 1 Samuel 17:6 These were not common among Old Testament soldiers.

Shield
Roman Shield
Two kinds of shields were used, one large and one smaller. 1 Samuel 17:7; 1 Kings 10:16; 2 Kings 19:32 For the large shield a distinguished soldiers or leader would have a shieldbearer. 1 Samuel 17:41 Shield were made of leather stretched over a wooden frame and held by a handle. 2 Samuel 1:21

Chariots
Roman Chariot
Ivory engraving of Chariots from Megiddo
Chariots were also used to transport the archers. These were not common in Israel but came to use in Solomons reign. They were light wooden carts pulled by one or two horses. They usually had a rope floor and a free running horse beside them. 1 Kings 22:34

Military Life
The time for nations to go to war depended in the East on the time of the year, and is referred to as the return of the year. 2 Samuel 11:1; 1 Kings 20:22,26; 2 Chronicles 36:10 The soldiers of the army seem to have had no pay, but must have been supported when on service and supplied with arms at the expense of the kings, though provisions were at times sent to them and to their officers from home. 1 Samuel 17:17,18

God and War
As in every area of Israels life God was central. For Israel God was to go before them into battle as 'the Lord of Hosts'. Judges 4:14; Isaiah 42:13 The men of war had to cleanse themselves before battle and the victory was seen as God's. 2 Samuel 11:11 Everything in the conquest belonged to God and so it was given to him either by means of burning it or by means of death. Joshua 7 A special stipulation in the law forbade the destruction of trees which were 'for meat' Deuteronomy 20:19,20, though it was not always observed. 2 Kings 3:18-25 War was often used as a means of punishment against Israel. Unholy nations were used to bring judgment upon an unrepentant people. Habakkuk 1:5-1; Jeremiah 21:5-7 
 

In ancient warfare the life of the conquered was a very hard one. Unless an arrangement for putting the whole land under tribute was made, slavery was the mildest fate for the women and children: often, along with old men, they were slain at once; and women with child were ripped up. 2 Kings 8:12 In Bible history however such savagery was generally confined to Israel's enemies, while the warfare of the Hebrews was usually marked with some humanity and compassion which was to reflect the nature of God. 1 Kings 20:31; 2 Kings 6:22; 2 Chronicles 28:8 

Copyright © 1995 David Graves & Jane Graves, Electronic Christian Media