Chariots on Fire: Military Dominance in the Old Testament
In: Horizons in Biblical TheologySearch for other papers by Peter M. Sensenig in
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Abstract
The Hebrew Bible from Exodus to Zechariah communicates Yahweh’s deep displeasure with military self-reliance, of which the symbol is the chariot. The primary criterion of justified war in the Old Testament is trust in Yahweh’s miracle rather than in the strength of chariots and horses, for which Joshua 11 serves as a paradigm. The exodus, conquest of Canaan, failed monarchic experiment, Psalms, and prophets all emphasize God’s opposition to military technology. Not simply a matter of pride or idolatry, weapons of domination are incompatible with the radical social experiment God intends Israel to be.
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Anup Shah, “World Military Spending,” Global Issues, 2 May 2011 (accessed 3 Jun. 2011), <http://www.globalissues.org/article/75/world-military-spending>. Shah draws his data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Military Expenditure Database.
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Chariots on Fire: Military Dominance in the Old Testament
In: Horizons in Biblical TheologySearch for other papers by Peter M. Sensenig in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
The Hebrew Bible from Exodus to Zechariah communicates Yahweh’s deep displeasure with military self-reliance, of which the symbol is the chariot. The primary criterion of justified war in the Old Testament is trust in Yahweh’s miracle rather than in the strength of chariots and horses, for which Joshua 11 serves as a paradigm. The exodus, conquest of Canaan, failed monarchic experiment, Psalms, and prophets all emphasize God’s opposition to military technology. Not simply a matter of pride or idolatry, weapons of domination are incompatible with the radical social experiment God intends Israel to be.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 374 | 65 | 6 |
| Full Text Views | 130 | 3 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 95 | 5 | 2 |
