Rituals of War in The Old Testament

Paper Summary:

Rituals played a vital role in the wars of the Old Testament: divine consultation, preparatory rites, scare tactics, the herem and purification rites all characterized the Israelite battles. This paper gives a systematic overview of the rituals associated with ancient Israelite warfare in the Old Testament used before, during and after battle.

From the Paper:

Consultation with God prior to battle was key in the pre-war rituals of the Old Testament. The Israelites would consult God to determine if they would be successful in their battle. Several methods and techniques were used to communicate with God, including simple consultations, omens/signs (sent from God), mediums, and the use of magical articles such as the ephod. An example of a simple consultation can be seen in 1 Samuel 23:2, where a report has reached David that the city of Keliah has been attacked by the Philistines. Not knowing what to do, David prays to God asking if he should go and rescue the city of Keliah. God answers, "Go and attack the Philistines and save Keliah" (1 Samuel 23:2). This is the simplest form of consultation that is seen in the Israelite pre-war ritual tradition. Here, God's word is given directly from God and not through any outside source requiring interpretation.

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