42 Bible Verses about Warfare, Examples Of

Jehovah your God will bring you into the land you are to possess. He will clear away many nations ahead of you. The nations he will clear: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites. These seven nations are larger and mightier than you. Jehovah your God will deliver them to you. You must crush them! Completely destroy them. You should make no covenant with them. Do not show them mercy.

I will send my terror ahead of you and throw any nation you meet into a panic. I will make all your enemies flee from you. I will throw your enemies into panic! I will drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites as you advance. I will not drive them out within a year's time. If I did, the land would become deserted. There would be too many wild animals for you.read more.
I will drive them a few at a time, until there are enough of you to take possession of the land. I will make the borders of your land extend from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Mediterranean Sea and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give you power over the inhabitants of the land. You will drive them out as you advance.

Hear, O Israel, you are about to cross the Jordan River. You will force out nations that are larger and mightier than you, with big cities that have sky-high walls. Their people are tall and strong. They are descendants of Anakim. You know all about them. You also heard it said: Who can oppose the descendants of Anak? Understand today that Jehovah your God is the one who is going ahead of you like a consuming (raging) (devouring) fire. He will wipe them out. Then he will use you to crush their power. You will take possession of their land and will quickly destroy them as Jehovah promised you.read more.
When Jehovah your God expels these people right before your very eyes, do not say to yourselves: 'Jehovah brought us here to possess this land because we live right (are righteous).' This is not the case. It is because these nations are so wicked that Jehovah is forcing them out of your way. It is not because you have been living right or because you are so honest that you enter to take possession of their land. It is because these people are so wicked that Jehovah your God is forcing them out of your way. It is also because Jehovah wants to confirm the promise he swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Do not spare anyone's life in the cities of these nations Jehovah your God is giving you as your property. You must capture the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites for Jehovah and completely destroy them. Jehovah your God commands you. Otherwise, they will teach you to do all the disgusting things they do for their gods. You will sin against Jehovah your God.

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that Jehovah said to Moses. Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions, by their tribes. The land rested from war.

Jehovah said to Joshua: See, I have given into your hand Jericho, and the king there, and the mighty men of valor.

Jehovah said to Joshua: Do not fear and do not be discouraged (troubled) (confused). Take all the people of war with you and go up to Ai. I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land. Do to Ai and her king what you did to Jericho and her king. Take the spoil and the cattle for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it.

So Joshua struck all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as Jehovah God of Israel commanded. And Joshua conquered them from Kadesh-barnea even to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon. All these kings and their land Joshua took at one time, because Jehovah the God of Israel fought for Israel.

So the children went in and took the land. You overcame before them the people of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them up into their hands, with their kings and the people of the land, so that they might do with them whatever it was their pleasure to do.

([Sons of Korah]) O God, we have heard with our ears and our fathers told us about the work that you did in their days, in the days of old. You drove out the nations with your own hand (great power). Then you planted them; you afflicted the peoples and spread them abroad. It was not with their swords that they took possession of the land. They did not gain victory with their own strength. It was your right hand, your arm (power), and the light of your presence that did it, because you were pleased with them.

Jehovah was with Judah. He drove out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

When Israel was strong they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor. They did not completely drive them out.

An angel of Jehovah came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: I led you out of Egypt and brought you to the land about which I swore to your fathers that I would never break my covenant with you. You will make no covenant with people of this land. You will throw down their altars. You have not obeyed my voice. Why have you done this? I also said: 'I will not drive them out from before you. They will be thorns in your sides. Their gods will snare (trap) you.'

The people of Israel sinned against Jehovah again. Because of this Jehovah made King Eglon of Moab stronger than Israel. Eglon joined the Ammonites and the Amalekites. They defeated Israel and captured Jericho, the city of palm trees. The Israelites were subject to Eglon for eighteen years.

If you will not listen to me and obey all these commandments, if you reject my laws and look at my rules with disgust, if you reject my promise by disobeying my commandments, then this is what I will do to you: I will terrorize you with disease and fever. You will suffer from eye problems and depression. You will plant your crops and get nothing because your enemies will eat them.read more.
I will condemn you so that you will go down in defeat in front of your enemies. Those who hate you will be your rulers. You will run away even when no one is chasing you.

If you do not obey Jehovah your God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

The people of Israel forgot Jehovah their God. They sinned against him and worshiped the idols of Baal and Asherah. Jehovah became angry at Israel and let King Cushan Rishathaim of Mesopotamia conquer them. They were subject to him for eight years.

Again the people of Israel sinned against Jehovah. Therefore he let the people of Midian rule them for seven years. The Midianites were very oppressive over Israel. So much so that the people of Israel hid from them in caves and other safe places in the mountains. When the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites along with the desert tribes attacked them.

Rehoboam established his kingdom and made himself strong. He and all Israel abandoned Jehovah's teachings. King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. This took place in the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign. It happened because all Israel was not loyal to Jehovah. Shishak had twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horses, and an army of countless Libyans, Sukkites, and Sudanese from Egypt.read more.
He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

The Aramean army attacked Joash at year's end. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the people's leaders. The Arameans sent all the loot they took from Judah and Jerusalem to the king of Damascus. The Aramean army came with a small number of men. Jehovah handed Joash's large army over to them because Joash's soldiers had abandoned Jehovah the God of their ancestors. So the Arameans carried out Jehovah's judgment on Joash.

Early the next morning the people went out to the wild country near Tekoa. Before they began Jehoshaphat addressed them with these words: 'People of Judah and Jerusalem! Put your trust in Jehovah your God. You will stand your ground. Believe what his prophets tell you, and you will succeed.

Carefully obey Jehovah your God. Faithfully follow all his commandments that I give you today. If you do this Jehovah your God will place you high above all the other nations in the world.

The Philistines heard that the Israelites gathered at Mizpah. So the Philistine rulers came to attack Israel. The Israelites heard about the Philistine plan and were afraid of them. The Israelites said to Samuel: Do not stop crying to Jehovah our God for us! Ask him to deliver us from the Philistines! Samuel killed a young lamb and burned it whole as a sacrifice to Jehovah. Then he prayed to Jehovah to help Israel. Jehovah answered his prayer.read more.
While Samuel was offering the burnt sacrifice, the Philistines moved forward to attack. Just then Jehovah thundered from heaven against them. They became completely confused and fled in panic. The Israelites marched out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and drove them back as far as Bethcar. They killed them along the way. Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He said: Jehovah helped us all the way. He named it: Stone of Help. The Philistines were defeated. Jehovah prevented them from invading Israel's territory as long as Samuel lived. The cities between Ekron and Gath that the Philistines took from Israel were returned to Israel. Israel recovered the territory controlled by these cities from the Philistines. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.

Nahash the Ammonite came up and put his forces in position for attacking Jabesh in Gilead. The men of Jabesh said to Nahash: Make an agreement with us and we will be your servants. Nahash answered: I will make a treaty with you on one condition. I will put out everyone's right eye and so bring disgrace on all Israel. The elders of Jabesh said: Give us seven days to send messengers throughout the land of Israel. If no one will help us, then we will surrender to you.read more.
The messengers arrived at Gibeah where Saul lived. When they told the news, the people started crying in despair. Just then Saul came from the field from behind some oxen. Why are these people crying? Saul asked. They told him the news about the men of Jabesh. When he heard this news, God's Spirit came over him. He became very angry. Saul took a pair of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the territory of Israel with the following message: This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel into battle. The people were afraid of Jehovah. They came out united behind Saul. When Saul counted them at Bezek, there were three hundred thousand troops from Israel and thirty thousand troops from Judah. They told the messengers: This is what you are to say to the men of Jabesh in Gilead: 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun gets hot, you will be rescued.' When the men of Jabesh received the message, they were overjoyed. They said to Nahash the Ammonite: Tomorrow we will surrender to you. You may do to us whatever you think is right. The next day Saul arranged the army in three divisions. They came into the Ammonite camp during the morning hours. They continued to defeat the Ammonites until it got hot that day. The survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

Jahaziel said: Pay attention to me, everyone from Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what Jehovah says to you: 'Do not be frightened or terrified by this large crowd. The battle is not yours. It is God's. Attack them tomorrow as they come up the pass at Ziz. Meet them at the end of the valley that leads to the wild country near Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Just take up your positions and wait. You will see Jehovah give you victory. People of Judah and Jerusalem, do not hesitate or be afraid.' Go out to battle. Jehovah will be with you!read more.
Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low. His face was touching the ground. All the people bowed with him and worshiped Jehovah. The members of the Levite clans of Kohath and Korah stood up and with a loud shout praised Jehovah, the God of Israel. Early the next morning the people went out to the wild country near Tekoa. Before they began Jehoshaphat addressed them with these words: 'People of Judah and Jerusalem! Put your trust in Jehovah your God. You will stand your ground. Believe what his prophets tell you, and you will succeed. After consulting with the people, the king ordered some musicians to put on the robes they wore on sacred occasions and to march ahead of the army. They sang: 'Praise Jehovah! His love is eternal!' As soon as they began singing, Jehovah confused the enemy camp, The Ammonite and Moabite troops attacked and completely destroyed those from Edom. Then they turned against each other and fought until the entire camp was wiped out! Judah's army reached the tower that overlooked the desert. They saw that every soldier in the enemy's army was lying dead on the ground.

There was a long war between the royal families of Saul and David. David's family became stronger and stronger. Saul's family became weaker and weaker.

When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he called together one hundred and eighty thousand of the best soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. He wanted to go to war and restore his control over the northern tribes of Israel.

Ner's son Abner, commander of Saul's army, took Saul's son Ishbosheth and brought him to Mahanaim. Abner made him king of Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, that is, all Israel. Saul's son Ishbosheth was forty years old when he became king of Israel. He ruled for two years. However the tribe of Judah followed David.read more.
In Hebron David was king over the tribe of Judah for seven years and six months. One time Abner and the soldiers of Ishbosheth left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. At that time Joab the son of Zeruiah was leading David's soldiers. The two groups met at the pool in Gibeon. Abner and his men sat down on one side of the pool and Joab and his men sat on the other side. Abner yelled to Joab: Let some of our best soldiers get up and fight each other! Joab agreed. Twelve of Ishbosheth's men from the tribe of Benjamin got up to fight twelve of David's men. Each one grabbed his opponent by the head. Then he stuck his sword into his opponent's side, and they fell down together. That place in Gibeon is called the Field of Enemies. Fierce fighting broke out that day. In the end, David's men defeated Abner and the men of Israel.

David told all his men who were with him in Jerusalem: We must run away quickly, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Leave right away or he will catch up to us and bring ruin upon us when he massacres the city.

Abijam continued the war that Rehoboam and Jeroboam started. There was war throughout Abijam's lifetime. Everything else that Abijah did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah.

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash, and all he did, and the force with which he went to war against Amaziah, king of Judah, are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying: The thorn-tree in Lebanon sent to the cedar in Lebanon, saying: 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife.' A beast from the woodland in Lebanon went by, crushing the thorn under his feet. It is true that you have overcome Edom and your heart is uplifted. Let that glory be enough for you and stay in your own country. Why do you make causes for trouble, putting yourself and Judah with you in danger of downfall? But Amaziah paid no attention. So Jehoash king of Israel went to Amaziah king of Judah to meet face to face at Bethshemesh in Judah.read more.
Judah was defeated by Israel and every man fled home. Jehoash king of Israel made Amaziah king of Judah son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, prisoner at Bethshemesh. He went to Jerusalem and had the wall of Jerusalem pulled down from the Gate of Ephraim to the gate in the angle, six hundred feet. He took all the gold and silver and all the vessels in the Temple of Jehovah and in the storehouse of the king, together with those whose lives would be the price of broken faith, and went back to Samaria. The rest of the acts of Jehoash, and his power, and how he went to war with Amaziah, king of Judah, are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this day.

Then the king of Assyria invaded the land and advanced to Samaria. He besieged the city for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria. He led the Israelites away to Assyria. He stationed them in Halah and Habor on the Gozan River, and in the towns of the Medes. The wrath (intense anger) of Jehovah came on Israel because they had done evil against Jehovah their God, who took them out of the land of Egypt from under the yoke of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. They worshipped other gods.read more.
They lived by the rules of the nations whom Jehovah sent out from before the children of Israel.

They mocked God's messengers. They despised his words, and made fun of his prophets until Jehovah became angry with his people. He could no longer heal them. So he had the Babylonian king attack them and execute their best young men in their holy temple. He did not spare the best men or the unmarried women, the old people or the sick people. God handed all of them over to him.

Now in the ninth year of his rule, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked Jerusalem with all his army. He took his position and laid siege to it. They built earthworks all round the town.

On the tenth day of the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Jerusalem with his entire army. They set up camp and built dirt ramps around the city walls. The blockade of the city lasted until Zedekiah's eleventh year as king.

It was the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Nebuzaradan, the captain of the armed men, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He had the Temple of Jehovah, the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burned with fire. The army of the Chaldaeans under the command of the captain of the army broke down the walls around Jerusalem.read more.
The rest of the people still in the town, and all those who had given themselves up to the king of Babylon, and all the rest of the workmen were taken away as prisoners by Nebuzaradan, the captain of the army.

On the tenth day of the fifth month of Nebuchadnezzar's nineteenth year as king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, who was the captain of the guard and an officer of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He burned down Jehovah's Temple, the royal palace, and all the houses in Jerusalem. Every important building was burned down. The entire Babylonian army that was with the captain of the guard tore down the walls around Jerusalem.read more.
Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, captured the few people left in the city, those who surrendered to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the population.

The king of Babylon executed them at Riblah in the territory of Hamath. So the people of Judah were captives when they left their land.

The king of Babylon executed them at Riblah in the territory of Hamath. So the people of Judah were captives as they left their land.

Again Jehovah asked: What do you see? I answered: I see a boiling pot, and its top is tilted away from the north. Jehovah said to me: Disaster will be poured out from the north on all those who live in the land. I am going to call every family and kingdom from the north, says Jehovah. They will come, and they will set up their thrones at the entrance of Jerusalem's gates. They will attack all the walls around the city and all the cities of Judah.read more.
I will pronounce judgment against my people because of all their wickedness. They abandoned me. They burned incense to other gods. They worshiped what their hands have made.