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The Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls: The ... - josephprestonkirk

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CHAPTER TEN<br />

THE BIBLICAL AND QUMRANIC CONCEPT OF WAR<br />

Philip R. Davies<br />

WARFARE IN THE HEBREW BIBLE<br />

<strong>The</strong> extent of military discourse in <strong>the</strong> Hebrew <strong>Bible</strong> is not particularly<br />

surprising, for warfare constituted (<strong>and</strong> has constituted until quite<br />

recently) a major activity of <strong>the</strong> ruling classes. <strong>The</strong> extension of territory,<br />

protection of taxpaying peasants <strong>and</strong> of <strong>the</strong> assets of king <strong>and</strong> courtiers,<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> diminution of <strong>the</strong> power of neighbors—all justified <strong>and</strong> guaranteed<br />

<strong>the</strong> existence of monarchy <strong>and</strong> of <strong>the</strong> individual monarch. Given that<br />

religion was an element of virtually all social <strong>and</strong> political behavior, it follows<br />

that deities were deeply implicated in <strong>the</strong> ideology of warfare. Gods<br />

often practiced warfare among <strong>the</strong>mselves as well as offering military protection<br />

to <strong>the</strong>ir patron kings <strong>and</strong> peoples. In <strong>the</strong>se respects, <strong>the</strong> Hebrew<br />

<strong>Bible</strong> accurately reflects <strong>the</strong> worldviews of <strong>the</strong> civilizations of <strong>the</strong> ancient<br />

Near East <strong>and</strong> of ancient Greece—indeed, of every ancient society.<br />

That warfare was a means of conduct between <strong>the</strong> gods was taken for<br />

granted. Through warfare many creator gods were believed to have<br />

established <strong>the</strong>ir rule over <strong>the</strong> world, <strong>and</strong> only by military power could<br />

<strong>the</strong>y sustain that rule. Heavenly governance mirrored earthly governance;<br />

gods were kings, <strong>and</strong> as kings, warfare was a major preoccupation.<br />

A mono<strong>the</strong>istic/syncretistic canon, <strong>the</strong> Hebrew <strong>Bible</strong> celebrates <strong>the</strong><br />

monarchic rule of Yahweh over <strong>the</strong> entire earth, a rule that is exercised<br />

mainly through acts of war.<br />

Warfare<br />

A survey of war in <strong>the</strong> Hebrew <strong>Bible</strong> can be divided into two aspects: <strong>the</strong><br />

human institution of war as a cultic or ritual act; <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> depiction of <strong>the</strong><br />

Deity as a warrior. <strong>The</strong>se two aspects regularly overlap, for human warfare<br />

209

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