2 Samuel 1:27 — Word Study
WLCאֵ֚יךְ נָפְל֣וּ גִבּוֹרִ֔ים וַיֹּאבְד֖וּ כְּלֵ֥י מִלְחָמָֽה׃ פ
BSAHowʼêyk [in what manner, to what extent] the mightygibbôwr [strong, valiant, warrior-like] have fallennâphal■ [been defeated, come to an end] and the weaponskᵉlîy [articles, utensils] of warmilchâmâh [battle, conflict] have perishedʼâbad▸ [been destroyed, lost]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֵ֚יךְ | how! | Particle |
| נָפְל֣וּ | they have fallen | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| גִבּוֹרִ֔ים | [the] mighty [ones] | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| וַיֹּאבְד֖וּ | and they have perished | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| כְּלֵ֥י | [the] weapons of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| מִלְחָמָֽה׃ פ | war | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!” |
| KJV | How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! |
| ASV | How are the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished! |
| YLT | How have the mighty fallen, Yea, the weapons of war perish!' |
| WEB | How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!” |
| BBE | How have the great ones been made low, and the arms of war broken! |
There are no significant differences in translation choices among the versions on this page.
The structure consists of a main clause followed by a subordinate clause, emphasizing the lamentation over the fallen and the lost.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Poole, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
subjectגִּבּוֹר
verbנָפַל
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 2 Samuel 1:27
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — David's Lament for Saul and Jonathangenerated
2 Samuel 1:27 captures David's profound grief over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. This lament emphasizes the fallen status of the mighty and the destruction of their weapons, highlighting the tragedy of loss in battle. David's sorrowful reflection serves as a poignant reminder of the cost of conflict and the valor of those who have perished.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Samuel 1:19–25 | “Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! |
| 2 | 2 Kings 2:12 | As Elisha watched, he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And he saw Elijah no more. So taking hold of his own clothes, he tore them in two. |
| 3 | 2 Kings 13:14 | When Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” |
| 4 | Psalm 46:9 | He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire. |
| 5 | Ezekiel 39:9–10 | Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out, kindle fires, and burn up the weapons—the bucklers and shields, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — גִבּוֹרִ֔ים, gi.bo.Rimgenerated
The word גִבּוֹר (gibbor) refers to a mighty or valiant person, often a warrior. It is derived from a root that implies strength and valor, indicating someone who is not only strong but also brave. In this context, it underscores the tragic fall of those who were once powerful and heroic.
The parsing as a masculine plural noun indicates that the term refers to multiple individuals, emphasizing a collective loss among the warriors. This word evokes a sense of lamentation for the fallen heroes of Israel.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations of this verse generally agree on the key terms.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two clauses linked by 'and': the first clause, אֵ֚יךְ נָפְל֣וּ גִבּוֹרִ֔ים, expresses the lament for the mighty who have fallen, while the second clause, וַיֹּאבְד֖וּ כְּלֵ֥י מִלְחָמָֽה, addresses the loss of the weapons of war. This structure emphasizes the dual themes of loss in battle.
The finite verb נָפְל֣וּ (they have fallen) governs the first clause, while יֹּאבְד֖וּ (they have perished) governs the second, indicating the actions of the subjects, the mighty ones.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew גִבּוֹרִ֔ים is rendered as δυνατοὶ (dunatoi), which also means 'mighty' or 'strong'. This choice maintains the emphasis on strength but may also carry connotations of divine power.
The translation of כְּלֵ֥י מִלְחָמָֽה as πολεμικά (
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Samuel 1:27 expresses David's sorrow for the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, lamenting how the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have been lost. This reflects the deep sense of loss and tragedy in battle, emphasizing the valor of those who perished.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
David is lamenting the deaths of great warriors, specifically Saul and Jonathan, highlighting their bravery and the tragedy of their loss.
The mention of the weapons signifies not just physical loss but also the defeat of Israel's strength and the impact of the fallen warriors on the nation.
This lament serves to honor the memory of the fallen and to express the sorrow of loss in battle, reflecting on the consequences of conflict.
This verse is part of David's mourning for Saul and Jonathan, setting the tone for his leadership and the challenges Israel faces after their deaths.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does this lament reveal about the value of bravery and sacrifice in battle?
- How can we honor the memory of those who have fallen in our own lives?
- In what ways do we see the consequences of conflict reflected in our world today?
- How can we learn from the stories of those who have faced great challenges and losses?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 1:27 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHow are the mighty fallen,.... This is the burden of this elegiac song, being the third time it is mentioned: and the weapons of war perished!
Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 1 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleEither, 1. Metaphorically so called, to wit, Saul and Jonathan, and the brave commanders and soldiers of Israel; who might have been called the chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. Or rather, 2. Properly; for, together with the men, their arms were lost, which was a very great aggravation of their loss, and that loss seems to be at this time more irrecoverable and dangerous than the loss of their men.
Read Matthew Poole on 2 Samuel 1 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments2 Samuel 1:27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!Ver. 27. How are the mighty fallen!] See 2 Samuel 1:19. And the weapons of war perished!] Yea, together with Saul and Jonathan, all the warlike glory of Israel is gone.
Read John Trapp on 2 Samuel 1 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges27. How are the mighty fallen] This thrice-repeated refrain sounds the keynote of the elegy. Cp. Psalms 42:5; Psalms 42:11; Psalms 43:5; Psalms 107:8; Psalms 107:15; Psalms 107:21; Psalms 107:31. the weapons of war] Metaphorically, of Saul and Jonathan as the instruments of battle for the nation. Cp. Isaiah 13:5, Acts 9:15 (óêåῦ ?ïò as in the LXX. here). To understand it literally of swords and spears would close the most pathetic of elegies with an incredible bathos. Dean Stanley observes that “Over the portal of the sepulchral chapel of the most famous of mediaeval heroes—the tomb of the Cid near Burgos—we find inscribed the words of David “How are the mighty fallen and the weapons of war…
Read Cambridge on 2 Samuel 1 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible27. Implements of war — The shields and other implements that were vilely cast away. 2 Samuel 1:21.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 2 Samuel 1 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!”
How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”
How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”
How the warriors have fallen! The weapons of war are destroyed!
Tyndale line
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
How are the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished!
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
How have the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
Strictly literal
How are the mighty fallen, and the instruments of war perished!
How have the mighty fallen, Yea, the weapons of war perish!'
How the mighty have fallen, || Indeed, the weapons of war perish!”
How are the mighty fallen, and lost the instruments of war!
How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”
From the Latin
How are the valiant fallen, and the weapons of war perished?
Simplified
How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war are gone!”
How have the great ones been made low, and the arms of war broken!
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads, "How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!" in Hebrew as, "אֵךְ נָפְלוּ גִבּוֹרִים וַיֹּאבְדוּ כְּלֵי מִלְחָמָה." The Septuagint agrees with this wording, matching all six words in a word-by-word correspondence, although the order and articles may differ. There are no significant differences noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, indicating a strong textual consistency across these ancient witnesses.
אֵ֚יךְ נָפְל֣וּ גִבּוֹרִ֔ים וַיֹּאבְד֖וּ כְּלֵ֥י מִלְחָמָֽה׃ פ
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 2 Samuel 1:27
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֵיךְ (*'eyk*) and its variants express the concept of 'how?' in various contexts, functioning as both interrogative and exclamatory forms. The entries indicate that it can also imply 'where' and is used in expressions of lamentation or satisfaction. The word appears in different spellings, reflecting its usage in the Old Testament.
אֵיךְ 69 adv.
interrog. How?
as an exclam. How!
base
אֵיכָה adv.
interrog. In what manner?
exclam. How!
Where?
base
אֵיכָ֫כָה (Ct) אֵֽיכָכָ֫ה (Est) How?
base
H349a אֵיךְ . interrog. How?
. as an exclam. How!
H349b אֵיכָה . interrog. In what manner?
. as an exclam. How!
H349c אֵיכָ֫כָה (Ct) אֵֽיכָכָ֫ה (Est) How?
349 'eyk ake
also eykah {ay-kaw'}; and teykakah {ay-kaw'-kah}; prolonged
from 335; how? or how!; also where:--how, what.
see HEBREW for 0335
אֵיךְ (ekh) — how?.
interrog adv
how?
אֵיכָה (e.khah) — how?.
interrog adv
1) how?
interj
2) how! (in lamentation)
3) expression of satisfaction
אֵיכָ֫כָה (e.kha.khah) — how?.
how?
Another spelling of ekh (אֵיךְ "how?" H0349A)
Part — ParticleHTi
Represents various Hebrew and Greek words, interrogative, interjectional and relative. Its different uses refer to
(1) the manner or way, e.g. Ge 44:34, "How shall I go up to my father?" ('ekh); Mt 6:28, "how they grow" (pos); 1Co 15:35, "How are the dead raised?";
(2) degree, extent, frequently, "how great" (Da 4:3, mah; Mr 5:19, hosos, "how much"); "how many" (Mt 27:13, posos); "how much" (Ac 9:13, hosos); "how much more" (Mt 7:11, posos;
נָפַל (naphal) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to fall,' encompassing a wide range of applications, including falling by accident, experiencing violent death, or going to ruin. It can also refer to prostrating oneself, attacking, or causing someone to fall. The term appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often indicating physical or metaphorical downfall.
נָפַל 433 vb. fall, lie
Qal 366
fall, by accident
Esp. of violent death
fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.
fig. = experience calamity
fall, of a city
Fall prostrate
fall = prostrate oneself before
fall upon one's neck, in embrace
Fall upon = attack
desert or fall away to, go over to
Fig., of deep sleep
Other idiomatic uses
= lie; = lie prostrate
Hiph.
cause to fall
Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction
Esp. of casting lot
Fig., let drop, cause to fail
cause deep sleep to fall
Other idioms
Hithp. throw, or prostrate oneself
base
H5307 נָפַל fall, lie .. fall, by accident
. . Esp. of violent death
. fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.
. fig. = experience calamity
. fall, of a city
. . Fall prostrate
. fall = prostrate oneself before
. fall upon one's neck, in embrace
. . Fall upon = attack
. desert or fall away to, go over to
. Fig., of deep sleep
. Other idiomatic uses
. = lie; = lie prostrate
. . cause to fall
. Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction
. Esp. of casting lot
. Fig., let drop, cause to fail
. cause deep sleep to fall
. Other idioms
. throw, or prostrate oneself
5307 naphal naw-fal'
a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications
(intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be
accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide
(by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall
(away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have
(inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay
(along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost,
lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make
to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.
see HEBREW for 06419
נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: fall.
: fall/drop/fail
1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to fall
1a2) to fall (of violent death)
1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before
1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of
1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result
1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to
1a7) to lie, lie prostrate
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate
1b2) to overthrow
1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot
1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.)
1b5) to cause to fall
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon
1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself
1d) (Pilel) to fall
נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: deserting.
: deserting
1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to fall
1a2) to fall (of violent death)
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
גִּבּוֹר (gibbor) means strong or mighty, and can refer to a powerful person, such as a warrior or chief. It is built from a root that implies strength and valor, covering meanings related to strength and bravery. The entries consistently emphasize its use to describe a strong man or mighty figure.
גִּבּוֹר 159 adj. strong, mighty
base
H1368 גִּבּוֹר strong, mighty
1368 gibbowr ghib-bore'
or (shortened) gibbor {ghib-bore'}; intensive from the same
as 1397; powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant:--
champion, chief, X excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one),
strong (man), valiant man.
see HEBREW for 01397
גִּבּוֹר (gib.bor) — mighty man.
adj
1) strong, mighty
n m
2) strong man, brave man, mighty man
Adj — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
אָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to perish or be lost. It encompasses a range of meanings, including dying, vanishing, and destruction, often in a moral or judgment context. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, with uses related to individuals, nations, and inanimate objects. The lexicons indicate that it can also imply causing something to perish or stray.
אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—
Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6…
Read the full entry →H6 אָבַד perish .. perish, die, of individuals
. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory
. be lost, strayed
. . cause to perish, destroy, kill
. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with
. cause to stray, lose
. . destroy, put to death, in judgment
. fig. obj. name of kings; hope; voice of mirth etc.
6 'abad aw-bad'
a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose
oneself; by implication to perish (causative,
destroy):--break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail,
lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be
undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.
אָבַד (a.vad) — to perish.
1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) perish, die, be exterminated
1a2) perish, vanish (fig.)
1a3) be lost, strayed
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate
1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.)
1b3) cause to stray, lose
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to destroy, put to death
1c1a) of divine judgment
1c2) object name of kings (fig.)
Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
כְּלִי (kliy) refers to an article or utensil, encompassing a wide range of objects such as vessels, tools, and implements used for various purposes, including music and warfare. It is derived from a root meaning 'to prepare' and can denote anything from furniture to weapons. The entries highlight its general use in the Old Testament without significant disagreement among lexicons.
כְּלִי 324 n.m. article, utensil, vessel
base
H3627 כְּלִי article, utensil, vessel
3627 kliy kel-ee'
from 3615; something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an
implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon):--armour
((-bearer)), artillery, bag, carriage, + furnish, furniture,
instrument, jewel, that is made of, X one from another, that
which pertaineth, pot, + psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool,
vessel, ware, weapon, + whatsoever.
see HEBREW for 03615
כְּלִי (ke.li) — article/utensil.
1) article, vessel, implement, utensil
1a) article, object (general)
1b) utensil, implement, apparatus, vessel
1b1) implement (of hunting or war)
1b2) implement (of music)
1b3) implement, tool (of labour)
1b4) equipment, yoke (of oxen)
1b5) utensils, furniture
1c) vessel, receptacle (general)
1d) vessels (boats) of paper-reed
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
מִלְחָמָה (milchamah) means 'battle' or 'war.' It is derived from the root word for fighting and encompasses both specific engagements and the broader concept of warfare. The entries consistently define it in this way, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
מִלְחָמָה 319 n.f. battle, war
base
H4421 מִלְחָמָה battle, war
4421 milchamah mil-khaw-maw'
from 3898 (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the
engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare):--battle,
fight(-ing), war((-rior)).
see HEBREW for 03898
מִלְחָמָה (mil.cha.mah) — battle.
battle, war
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
War
The Israelites had to take possession of the Promised Land by conquest. They had to engage in a long and bloody war before the Canaanitish tribes were finally subdued. Except in the case of Jericho and Ai, the war did not become aggressive till after the death of Joshua. Till then the attack was always first made by the Canaanites. Now the measure of the iniquity of the Canaanites was full, and Israel was employed by God to sweep them away from off the face of the earth. In entering on this new stage of the war, the tribe of Judah, according to divine direction, took the lead.
In the days of Saul and David the people of Israel engaged in many wars with the nations around, and after the division of the kingdom into two they often warred with each other. They had to defend themselves also against the inroads of the Egyptians, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians. The whole history of…
The most important topic in connection with war is the formation of the army which is destined to carry it on. [ARMY] In (1 Kings 9:22) at a period (Solomon’s reign) when the organization of the army was complete, we have apparently a list of the various gradations of rank in the service, as follows: "Men of war" = privates ; "servants," the lowest rank of officers --lieutenants ; "princes" = captains ; "captains," perhaps = staff officers ; "rulers of the chariots and his horsemen" = cavalry officers . Formal proclamations of war were not interchanged between the belligerents. Before entering the enemy’s district spies were seat to ascertain the character of the country and the preparations of its inhabitants for resistance. (Numbers 13:17;
One of the evil fruits of the fall, and an appalling manifestation of the depravity of mankind, Ge 6:11-13 Isa 9:5 Jas 4:1-2, often rendered apparently inevitable by the assaults of enemies, or commanded by God for their punishment. See AMALEKITES and CANAAN.
By this scourge, subsequently to the conquest of Canaan, God chastised both his own rebellious people and the corrupt and oppressive idolaters around them. In many cases, moreover, the issue was distinctly made between the true God and idols; as with the Philistines, 1Sa 17:43-47; the Syrians, 1Ki 20:23-30; the Assyrians,
→ Divine approval of 2Sa 22:35
→ Civil Jud 12:1-6; 20; 2Sa 2:12-31; 3:1; 20; 1Ki 14:30; 16:21; Isa 19:2
→ Forbidden 2Ch 11:4
→ Averted Jos 22:11-34
→ Enemy harangued by the general of the opposing side 2Ki 18:19-36; 2Ch 13:4-12
→ Of extermination Nu 31:7-17; De 2:33,34; 3:6; 20:13-18;