War in the Old Testament

• Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
• Judges 3:2 – “(He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience)”
• 1 Samuel 17:47 – “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
• 2 Samuel 22:35 – “He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”
• 2 Kings 6:16 – “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
• 1 Chronicles 5:22 – “And many others fell slain, because the battle was God’s. And they occupied the land until the exile.”
• 2 Chronicles 20:15 – “He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
• Nehemiah 4:20 – “Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”
• Psalm 18:39 – “You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.”
• Psalm 144:1 – “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.”

Divine Protection in War

• Exodus 14:14 – “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
• Deuteronomy 1:30 – “The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes,”
• Deuteronomy 3:22 – “Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.”
• Joshua 23:10 – “One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised.”
• Psalm 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
• Psalm 34:7 – “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”
• Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
• Isaiah 31:5 – “Like birds hovering overhead, the Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.”
• Isaiah 54:17 – “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.”
• Zephaniah 3:17 – “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

God’s Judgment in War

• Deuteronomy 20:4 – “For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
• Isaiah 13:4 – “Listen, a noise on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations massing together! The Lord Almighty is mustering an army for war.”
• Jeremiah 46:10 – “But that day belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty— a day of vengeance, for vengeance on his foes. The sword will devour till it is satisfied, till it has quenched its thirst with blood. For the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will offer sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.”
• Ezekiel 25:14 – “I will take vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
• Joel 3:9 – “Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.”
• Amos 1:14 – “I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah that will consume her fortresses amid war cries on the day of battle, amid violent winds on a stormy day.”
• Obadiah 1:1 – “The vision of Obadiah. This is what the Sovereign Lord says about Edom—We have heard a message from the Lord: An envoy was sent to the nations to say, “Rise, let us go against her for battle”—”
• Micah 4:3 – “He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
• Nahum 1:2 – “The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies.”
• Zechariah 14:3 – “Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle.”

War and Peace

• Psalm 34:14 – “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
• Proverbs 16:7 – “When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.”
• Isaiah 2:4 – “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
• Isaiah 9:5 – “Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.”
• Isaiah 9:6 – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
• Jeremiah 29:7 – “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
• Ezekiel 7:25 – “When terror comes, they will seek peace in vain.”
• Hosea 2:18 – “In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety.”
• Zechariah 9:10 – “I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.”
• Romans 12:18 – “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

War and the End Times

• Matthew 24:6 – “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.”
• Matthew 24:7 – “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.”
• Mark 13:7 – “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.”
• Mark 13:8 – “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.”
• Luke 21:9 – “When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
• Luke 21:10 – “Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
• Revelation 6:4 – “Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.”
• Revelation 9:7 – “The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces.”
• Revelation 16:14 – “They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.”
• Revelation 19:19 – “Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army.”

Strategies and Tactics in War

• Joshua 8:1 – “Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land.”
• Judges 7:7 – “The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.”
• 1 Samuel 14:6 – “Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
• 2 Samuel 5:24 – “As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.”
• 2 Samuel 22:30 – “With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.”
• 1 Kings 20:13 – “Meanwhile a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
• 2 Chronicles 14:11 – “Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.”
• Psalm 18:32-33 – “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.”
• Psalm 144:2 – “He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.”
• Ecclesiastes 9:18 – “Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.”

Moral and Ethical Considerations in War

• Exodus 20:13 – “You shall not murder.”
• Deuteronomy 24:5 – “If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.”
• Psalm 11:5 – “The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.”
• Proverbs 3:31 – “Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways.”
• Proverbs 6:16-19 – “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
• Isaiah 1:17 – “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
• Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
• Matthew 26:52 – ““Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”
• Romans 13:4 – “For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”
• James 4:1 – “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”

Heroes of War

• Joshua 6:20 – “When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.”
• Judges 4:15 – “At Barak’s advance, the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.”
• 1 Samuel 18:7 – “As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.””
• 2 Samuel 23:10 – “But Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; the troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.”
• 2 Kings 14:7 – “He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured Sela in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day.”
• 1 Chronicles 11:14 – “But they took their stand in the middle of the field. They defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.”
• 2 Chronicles 20:22 – “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.”
• Nehemiah 4:17 – “who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,”
• Esther 9:16 – “Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them but did not lay their hands on the plunder.”
• Daniel 11:32 – “With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.”

Divine Intervention in War

• Exodus 17:11 – “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.”
• Joshua 10:11 – “As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.”
• Judges 15:14 – “As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands.”
• 1 Samuel 14:20 – “Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords.”
• 2 Kings 7:6 – “for the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!””
• 2 Kings 19:35 – “That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies!”
• 2 Chronicles 32:21 – “And the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword.”
• Isaiah 37:36 – “Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies!”
• Daniel 6:22 – “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
• Acts 12:23 – “Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.”

Spiritual Warfare

• 2 Corinthians 10:4 – “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
• Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
• Ephesians 6:12 – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
• Ephesians 6:13 – “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
• Ephesians 6:14 – “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,”
• Ephesians 6:15 – “and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
• Ephesians 6:16 – “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
• Ephesians 6:17 – “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
• Ephesians 6:18 – “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
• 1 Timothy 6:12 – “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Peaceful Resolution

• Proverbs 12:20 – “Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.”
• Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
• Isaiah 32:17 – “The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.”
• Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
• Romans 8:6 – “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
• Romans 14:19 – “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
• 1 Corinthians 14:33 – “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.”
• 2 Corinthians 13:11 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”
• Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
• Colossians 3:15 – “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Righteousness and Justice in War

• Psalm 82:3 – “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.”
• Proverbs 21:15 – “When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.”
• Isaiah 5:16 – “But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will be proved holy by his righteous acts.”
• Isaiah 28:17 – “I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.”
• Isaiah 61:8 – “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.”
• Jeremiah 22:3 – “This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.”
• Ezekiel 18:21 – “But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.”
• Hosea 12:6 – “But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.”
• Amos 5:24 – “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
• Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

God’s Sovereignty in War

• Psalm 33:16-17 – “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.”
• Psalm 46:9 – “He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.”
• Psalm 68:30 – “Rebuke the beast among the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations. Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.”
• Proverbs 21:31 – “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.”
• Isaiah 10:6 – “I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets.”
• Jeremiah 50:25 – “The Lord has opened his arsenal and brought out the weapons of his wrath, for the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do in the land of the Babylonians.”
• Daniel 4:35 – “All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?””
• Amos 3:6 – “When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?”
• Habakkuk 1:6 – “I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own.”
• Revelation 19:15 – “Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.”

The Cost of War

• Deuteronomy 20:5 – “The officers shall say to the army: “Has anyone built a new house and not yet begun to live in it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else may begin to live in it.”
• Deuteronomy 20:6 – “Has anyone planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else enjoy it.”
• Deuteronomy 20:7 – “Has anyone become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else marry her.”
• Joshua 7:5 – “who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.”
• 2 Samuel 1:25 – “How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.”
• 2 Samuel 11:17 – “When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died.”
• 2 Chronicles 35:22-24 – “Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo. Archers shot King Josiah, and he told his officers, “Take me away; I am badly wounded.” So they took him out of his chariot, put him in his other chariot and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.”
• Ezekiel 37:10 – “So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.”
• Joel 2:11 – “The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?”
• James 4:2 – “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.”

Strength and Courage in War

• Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
• Deuteronomy 31:8 – “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
• Joshua 1:7 – ““Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”
• 1 Chronicles 28:20 – “David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.”
• Psalm 27:14 – “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
• Psalm 31:24 – “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”
• Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
• Isaiah 41:13 – “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
• 1 Corinthians 16:13 – “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
• 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

God’s Peace in the Midst of War

• Psalm 29:11 – “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
• Psalm 37:11 – “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.”
• Psalm 119:165 – “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”
• Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
• Isaiah 26:12 – “Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.”
• John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
• John 16:33 – ““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.””
• Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
• 2 Thessalonians 3:16 – “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
• Hebrews 12:14 – “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”