Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Armies » March in ranks » Religious ceremonies attending » Seeking counsel from God before battle
He will depend on Eleazar the priest, who will learn my will by using the Urim and Thummim. In this way Eleazar will direct Joshua and the whole congregation of Israel in all their affairs.
After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked Jehovah (YHWH), saying: Who will go first to fight against the Canaanites for us?
While Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp grew worse. Then Saul said to the priest: Remove your hand.
Saul asked God: Should I attack the Philistines? Will you help us win? This time God did not answer. Saul called his army officers together and said: We have to find out what sin has kept God from answering. I promise by the living Jehovah, who gives Israel victory, that the guilty one will be put to death, even if he is my son Jonathan. But no one said anything. read more.
Then Saul said to them: All of you stand over there. Jonathan and I will stand over here. Do whatever you think best, they answered. Saul said to Jehovah the God of Israel, give a perfect lot. Jonathan and Samuel were taken, but the people escaped.
Then Saul said to them: All of you stand over there. Jonathan and I will stand over here. Do whatever you think best, they answered. Saul said to Jehovah the God of Israel, give a perfect lot. Jonathan and Samuel were taken, but the people escaped.
He asked Jehovah: Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Jehovah answered: Yes, Attack them and save Keilah. David's men said to him: We have enough to be afraid of here in Judah. It will be worse if we go to Keilah and attack the Philistine forces! David consulted Jehovah once again, and Jehovah said to him: Go attack Keilah! I will give you victory over the Philistines. read more.
David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. They drove off their livestock, and overwhelmingly defeated them. So David rescued the people who lived in Keilah. When Ahimelech's son Abiathar fled to David at Keilah, Abiathar brought a priestly ephod with him. When Saul was told that David went to Keilah, Saul said: God has delivered him into my hands. He has trapped himself by going into a city which has a gate with a double door held shut by a bar. So Saul called all the troops to go to war. They wanted to blockade Keilah, where David and his men were. David learned that Saul was planning to harm him. He told the priest Abiathar: Bring the ephod! Then David said: Jehovah God of Israel, I have actually heard that Saul is going to come to Keilah and destroy the city on account of me. Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come here as I have heard? Jehovah God of Israel, please tell me. Jehovah answered: He will come. Will the citizens of Keilah hand my men and me over to Saul? David asked. Jehovah answered: They will hand you over.
David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. They drove off their livestock, and overwhelmingly defeated them. So David rescued the people who lived in Keilah. When Ahimelech's son Abiathar fled to David at Keilah, Abiathar brought a priestly ephod with him. When Saul was told that David went to Keilah, Saul said: God has delivered him into my hands. He has trapped himself by going into a city which has a gate with a double door held shut by a bar. So Saul called all the troops to go to war. They wanted to blockade Keilah, where David and his men were. David learned that Saul was planning to harm him. He told the priest Abiathar: Bring the ephod! Then David said: Jehovah God of Israel, I have actually heard that Saul is going to come to Keilah and destroy the city on account of me. Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come here as I have heard? Jehovah God of Israel, please tell me. Jehovah answered: He will come. Will the citizens of Keilah hand my men and me over to Saul? David asked. Jehovah answered: They will hand you over.
David asked Jehovah: Should I pursue these troops? Will I catch up with them? Pursue them! Jehovah told him: You will certainly catch up with them and rescue the captives.
Later David asked Jehovah: Shall I go to the towns of Judah? Yes, Jehovah answered. Which one? David asked. Hebron, Jehovah told him.
David asked Jehovah: Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me? Jehovah answered David: Attack! I will certainly deliver the Philistines to you.
Once again David consulted Jehovah. Jehovah answered David: Do not attack them from here. Go around and get ready to attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees.
Jehoshaphat asked: Is there another prophet through whom we can consult Jehovah? Ahab answered: There is one more, Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, always something bad. The king should not say such things! Jehoshaphat replied. Then Ahab called a court official and told him to get Micaiah at once. read more.
They dressed in their royal robes and sat on their thrones at the threshing place near the gate of Samaria. The two kings listened to all the prophets prophesy in front of them. One of them, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said to Ahab: Jehovah says: 'With these you will fight the Syrians and totally defeat them.' All the other prophets said the same thing: March against Ramoth and you will win, they said. Jehovah will give you victory. The messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him: All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king. You had better do the same. Micaiah answered: By the living God Jehovah I promise that I will say what he tells me to say! He appeared before King Ahab. The king asked him: Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not? Attack! Micaiah answered. You will win. Jehovah will give you victory. But Ahab replied: Tell the truth when you speak to me in the name of Jehovah! How many times do I have to tell you that? Micaiah answered: I can see the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. Jehovah said: These men have no leader. Let them go home in peace. Israel's king said to Jehoshaphat: Did I not say to you, He will prophesy about me? It is always something bad! Micaiah continued: Now listen to what Jehovah says! I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne in heaven, with all his angels standing beside him. Jehovah asked: Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and be killed at Ramoth? Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else, until a spirit stepped forward, approached Jehovah, and said: I will deceive him. How will you deceive him? Jehovah asked. The spirit replied: I will make all of Ahab's prophets tell lies. Jehovah said: Go and deceive him. You will succeed. Micaiah concluded: This is what has happened. Jehovah made these prophets of yours lie to you. He has decreed that you will meet with disaster! The prophet Zedekiah went to Micaiah and slapped his face. He asked: Since when did Jehovah's spirit leave me and speak to you? You will see when you go into an inner chamber to hide. Micaiah replied. The king of Israel said: Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon, the ruler of the town, and to Joash, the king's son. Tell them: 'It is the king's order that this man is to be put in prison and given prison food till I come again in peace.' Micaiah said: If you come back at all in peace, Jehovah has not sent his word by me.
They dressed in their royal robes and sat on their thrones at the threshing place near the gate of Samaria. The two kings listened to all the prophets prophesy in front of them. One of them, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said to Ahab: Jehovah says: 'With these you will fight the Syrians and totally defeat them.' All the other prophets said the same thing: March against Ramoth and you will win, they said. Jehovah will give you victory. The messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him: All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king. You had better do the same. Micaiah answered: By the living God Jehovah I promise that I will say what he tells me to say! He appeared before King Ahab. The king asked him: Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not? Attack! Micaiah answered. You will win. Jehovah will give you victory. But Ahab replied: Tell the truth when you speak to me in the name of Jehovah! How many times do I have to tell you that? Micaiah answered: I can see the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. Jehovah said: These men have no leader. Let them go home in peace. Israel's king said to Jehoshaphat: Did I not say to you, He will prophesy about me? It is always something bad! Micaiah continued: Now listen to what Jehovah says! I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne in heaven, with all his angels standing beside him. Jehovah asked: Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and be killed at Ramoth? Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else, until a spirit stepped forward, approached Jehovah, and said: I will deceive him. How will you deceive him? Jehovah asked. The spirit replied: I will make all of Ahab's prophets tell lies. Jehovah said: Go and deceive him. You will succeed. Micaiah concluded: This is what has happened. Jehovah made these prophets of yours lie to you. He has decreed that you will meet with disaster! The prophet Zedekiah went to Micaiah and slapped his face. He asked: Since when did Jehovah's spirit leave me and speak to you? You will see when you go into an inner chamber to hide. Micaiah replied. The king of Israel said: Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon, the ruler of the town, and to Joash, the king's son. Tell them: 'It is the king's order that this man is to be put in prison and given prison food till I come again in peace.' Micaiah said: If you come back at all in peace, Jehovah has not sent his word by me.
King Jehoshaphat asked: Do we have a prophet here to consult Jehovah? An officer of King Joram's forces answered: Elisha son of Shaphat is here who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah. The word of Jehovah is with him, King Jehoshaphat said. So the three kings went to Elisha. Why should I have anything to do with you? Elisha said to the king of Israel. Go consult the prophets your father and mother consulted. No! Joram king of Israel replied. It is Jehovah who placed us three kings at the mercy of the king of Moab. read more.
Elisha answered: By the living God Jehovah, whom I serve, I swear that I would have nothing to do with you if I did not respect your ally, King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Now bring me a musician. As the musician played his harp, the power of Jehovah came on Elisha. He said: This is what Jehovah says: 'Dig ditches all over this dry streambed (wadi). You will not see any rain or wind. This streambed will be filled with water and you and your animals will have plenty to drink. Elisha continued: This is an easy thing for Jehovah to do. He will also give you victory over the Moabites. You will conquer all their beautiful fortified cities. You will cut down all their fruit trees, stop all their springs, and ruin all their fertile fields by covering them with stones.
Elisha answered: By the living God Jehovah, whom I serve, I swear that I would have nothing to do with you if I did not respect your ally, King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Now bring me a musician. As the musician played his harp, the power of Jehovah came on Elisha. He said: This is what Jehovah says: 'Dig ditches all over this dry streambed (wadi). You will not see any rain or wind. This streambed will be filled with water and you and your animals will have plenty to drink. Elisha continued: This is an easy thing for Jehovah to do. He will also give you victory over the Moabites. You will conquer all their beautiful fortified cities. You will cut down all their fruit trees, stop all their springs, and ruin all their fertile fields by covering them with stones.
David inquired of God: Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me? Jehovah answered him: Go, I will hand them over to you.
David inquired of God again, and God answered him: Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says: 'Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to get advice from me: Pharaoh's army has come out to help you. But it will go back to Egypt, its own land. Then the Babylonians will return. They will attack the city, capture it, and burn it down. Jehovah says: 'Do not deceive yourselves by thinking that the Babylonians will leave you. They will not leave you. read more.
Even if you would defeat the entire Babylonian army so that they had only a few badly wounded men left in their tents, they would get up and burn down this city!'
Even if you would defeat the entire Babylonian army so that they had only a few badly wounded men left in their tents, they would get up and burn down this city!'
Enquiring of God » General examples of
The Ark of the Covenant was there at Bethel in those days. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, was in charge of it.
After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked Jehovah (YHWH), saying: Who will go first to fight against the Canaanites for us?
Later David asked Jehovah: Shall I go to the towns of Judah? Yes, Jehovah answered. Which one? David asked. Hebron, Jehovah told him.
David inquired of God again, and God answered him: Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
When he killed some of them, the rest searched for him. They turned from their sins and eagerly looked for God.
She was going to have twins. Before they were born they struggled against each other in her womb. She said: Why should something like this happen to me? She asked Jehovah for an answer.
Inquiring of God » General examples of
The Ark of the Covenant was there at Bethel in those days. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, was in charge of it.
After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked Jehovah (YHWH), saying: Who will go first to fight against the Canaanites for us?
Later David asked Jehovah: Shall I go to the towns of Judah? Yes, Jehovah answered. Which one? David asked. Hebron, Jehovah told him.
David inquired of God again, and God answered him: Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
When he killed some of them, the rest searched for him. They turned from their sins and eagerly looked for God.
She was going to have twins. Before they were born they struggled against each other in her womb. She said: Why should something like this happen to me? She asked Jehovah for an answer.
Philistines » Defeated by david
The Philistines heard that David was now king of Israel. They mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David found out and went into his fortress. So the Philistines camped in Rephaim Valley. David asked Jehovah: Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me? Jehovah answered David: Attack! I will certainly deliver the Philistines to you. read more.
David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines. He said: Jehovah has overwhelmed my enemies in front of me like an overwhelming flood. That is why that place is called Baal Perazim (Master of Breaking Through) The Philistines left their idols there. David and his men carried them all away. The Philistines again attacked and overran the valley of Rephaim. Once again David consulted Jehovah. Jehovah answered David: Do not attack them from here. Go around and get ready to attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees. Attack when you hear the sound of marching in the treetops. I will be marching ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army. David did what Jehovah commanded. He drove the Philistines back from Geba all the way to Gezer.
David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines. He said: Jehovah has overwhelmed my enemies in front of me like an overwhelming flood. That is why that place is called Baal Perazim (Master of Breaking Through) The Philistines left their idols there. David and his men carried them all away. The Philistines again attacked and overran the valley of Rephaim. Once again David consulted Jehovah. Jehovah answered David: Do not attack them from here. Go around and get ready to attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees. Attack when you hear the sound of marching in the treetops. I will be marching ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army. David did what Jehovah commanded. He drove the Philistines back from Geba all the way to Gezer.
The next one of the Three Warriors was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite. One time when the Philistines were at war with Israel, he and David dared the Philistines to fight them. Every one of the Israelite soldiers turned and ran. Eleazar was the exception. He killed Philistines until his hand was cramped. He could not let go of his sword. When Eleazar finished, all the Israelite troops had to do was come back and take the enemies' weapons and armor. Jehovah gave Israel a great victory that day. Next in rank to him was Shammah, the son of Agee from Harar. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a field of ripe lentils. When the troops fled from the Philistines, read more.
he stood in the middle of the field and defended it by killing Philistines. So Jehovah won an impressive victory. At harvest time three of the thirty leading men came to David at the cave of Adullam when a troop from the Philistine army was camping in the valley of Rephaim. David was on a fortified hill. A group of Philistines occupied Bethlehem. David grew homesick. He said: I wish someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate at Bethlehem! The three famous soldiers forced their way through the Philistine camp. They then drew some water from the well, and brought it back to David. But he would not drink it. He poured it out as an offering to Jehovah.
he stood in the middle of the field and defended it by killing Philistines. So Jehovah won an impressive victory. At harvest time three of the thirty leading men came to David at the cave of Adullam when a troop from the Philistine army was camping in the valley of Rephaim. David was on a fortified hill. A group of Philistines occupied Bethlehem. David grew homesick. He said: I wish someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate at Bethlehem! The three famous soldiers forced their way through the Philistine camp. They then drew some water from the well, and brought it back to David. But he would not drink it. He poured it out as an offering to Jehovah.
The Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel. So they went up in full force to search for him. David heard about it and went out to meet them. The Philistines raided the Valley of Rephaim. David inquired of God: Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me? Jehovah answered him: Go, I will hand them over to you. read more.
David and his men went to Baal Perazim. He defeated them there. He said: As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand. So that place was called Baal Perazim (the lord who breaks out). The Philistines abandoned their gods. So David gave orders to burn them in the fire. Once more the Philistines raided the valley. David inquired of God again, and God answered him: Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle. That will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army. David did as God commanded him. They struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
David and his men went to Baal Perazim. He defeated them there. He said: As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand. So that place was called Baal Perazim (the lord who breaks out). The Philistines abandoned their gods. So David gave orders to burn them in the fire. Once more the Philistines raided the valley. David inquired of God again, and God answered him: Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle. That will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army. David did as God commanded him. They struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.