As the final act of battle, Israel was sometimes required to dedicate everything in a “ban” (herem), which meant that the people and possessions of an entire city would be set apart for God and destroyed (Deut 7:2; 20:17; Josh 8:2; 1 Sam 15:3). Only the metal objects were saved (Josh 6:18-24). Those who transgressed the ban faced dire consequences (Josh 7).
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The Hebrew word for “war” occurs more than 300 times in the OT. The strategic position of Palestine between Mesopotamia and Egypt made war a harsh reality for most of its inhabitants during biblical times. Israel gained a foothold in this land by means of a war of conquest, and thereafter, by frequently defensive actions against intruders and invaders. Unfortunately, the history of war in Israel also included several civil conflicts.
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Two maxims underlie the Bible’s principles of financial responsibility; the earth and its resources belong to God (Lev 25:23; Job 41:11; Pss 24:1; 89:11; Hag 2:8), and they have been entrusted to people to use wisely (Gen 1:29-30; 9:1-4). The overall message of the Bible regarding finances is one of personal thrift combined with generosity toward others. The Bible places a high value on saving money to provide for oneself and others in times of need (Gen 41:1-57; Prov 6:6-8; 21:20; Eccles 11:2; Luke 12:16-21; 1 Cor 16:2). Because God blessed those
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ISAIAH 45:7 – 7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.
FROM THE HEBREW AND GREEK KEY WORD STUDY BIBLE pg 1993
7451. ra’, rah; from 7489; bad or (as noun) evil (natural) or mora): -adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease (-ure), distress, evil (I – favouredness], man, thing), + exceedingly, x great, grief (-vous), misery, naught (-ty), noisome, + not please, sad (-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked (-ly, -ness, one), worse (-st), wretchedness, wrong. [Including feminine, ra’ ‘ah, raw-aw’; as adjective or noun.)
Continue reading IS GOD BOTH GOOD AND EVIL? (ISAIAH 45:7 EXPLAINED)
It was Solomon who built up a professional army, for through taxation and trading he was able to accumulate sufficient wealth to pay for it (1 Kings 10:25-27). In times of national emergency the regular army was supplemented by conscripts. Recruiting officers went through the tribes on such occasions and were still in use at a much later date (2 Kings 25:18; 2 Chronicles 11:1).
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Absence of lights is used in both physical and figurative senses in both the OT and NT. The darkness that covered the deep before God’s creation of light symbolizes chaos in opposition to God’s orderly creations (Gen 1:2-3). Elsewhere darkness, as well as light, is recognized as the creation of God (Isa 45:7). Darkness is a place where “workers of iniquity may hide” (Job 34:22 NASB); however, darkness does not hide one from God (Psa 139:11-12; Dan 2:22).
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In demanding a king, Israel became like every other nation of the world. Instead of asking God for relief from counterfeit spiritual leaders, they cried, “Give us a king!” They rejected God’s rule in favor of human leadership.
Continue reading DID THE KINGS HELP OR HURT ISRAEL AS A NATION?
It was not possible to separate warfare from religion. The connection of the two was evident in many aspects of military practice. To the Jews, God was the Lord of Hosts who went before them into battle (Exo 15:3; Judg 4:14; 1 Sam 17:45; Isaiah 42:13). There was a sacred “Book of the Wars of the Lord” (Num 21:14). Before going to war, the men had to keep themselves ritually clean, not even engaging in sexual relationships (2 Sam 11:11). Health laws were involved in the commandments concerning ceremonial uncleanliness, but there were other laws in operation as well as those (Deut 13:13-14).
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Army at God’s command, composed of either heavenly bodies (such as sun, moon, and stars) or angels.
“Host” is basically a military term connected with fighting or waging a war. The most frequent use of the word is to designate a group of men organized for war. In this sense, The Hebrew word often refers to a human army (Gen 21:22,32; Judg 4:2,7; 9:29; 1 Sam 12:9; 2 Sam 3:23; Isa 34:2; Jer 51:3). The term can refer to an act of war, as in Num 1:3,20; Deut 24:5; and Josh 22:12. An extended meaning of “hosts” is that it designates a length of time of hard service (Job 7:1; Isa 40:2; Dan 10:1). The term is used in the book of Numbers to refer to the service of the Levites in the sanctuary.
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God has given us a very explicit ruling on homosexuality. Read what His Word says.
46. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. . .Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: and the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. (Lev 18:22, 24-25).
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