Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5214 attack

A violent act of aggression often associated with intent to invade, sometimes as an act of retribution and occasionally as a strategic act of self-defence. Scripture also recognises the possibility of spiritual aggression through attack by evil forces.

Examples of God's people attacking others

Genesis 14:14-16 Abraham attacks the captors of the king of Sodom; Judges 7:19-21 Gideon attacks the Midianites; 1 Samuel 14:13-14 Jonathan attacks the Philistines; 2 Samuel 5:6-7 pp 1 Chronicles 11:4-5 David attacks the Jebusites; Deuteronomy 20:1-20 Moses gives detailed instruction on going to war.

The Israelites attack the inhabitants of Canaan

Joshua 6:2,20 See also Joshua 8:1-3,21-22; Joshua 10:9-10,29-42; Joshua 11:7-8,16-23

Examples of God's people attacked by others

By the Amalekites

Exodus 17:8-13

By the Midianites

See also Judges 6:1-6

By the Ammonites

Judges 10:9; Judges 11:4-6; 2 Samuel 10:8 pp 1 Chronicles 19:9; 2 Chronicles 20:1

By the Philistines

1 Samuel 7:7 See also 2 Samuel 5:17,22 pp 1 Chronicles 14:8 pp 1 Chronicles 14:13; Psalm 56:1-2

By Syria (Aram)

1 Kings 20:1 See also 1 Kings 20:26; 2 Kings 3:21-27 the Moabites seek to attack Israel but are routed; 2 Kings 5:2; Kings 6:24-25; Kings 12:17; 2 Chronicles 16:1-4; 2 C 5

By the Egyptians

2 Chronicles 12:1-4,7-9

Attacks on God's people resulting in exile

Israel attacked by the Assyrians

2 Kings 17:3-6 See also 2 Kings 18:9-12

Judah attacked by the Babylonians

2 Chronicles 36:5-7 pp 2 Kings 24:1 See also 2 Kings 24:10-16; Kings 25:1,8-11 pp 2 Chronicles 36:15-20; Jeremiah 32:24; Ezekiel 33:21

God's people attack each other

Intertribal warfare

Judges 9:22-23,39-45; Judges 20:18-48

The north (Israel) and south (Judah) attack each other

2 Kings 14:11-14 pp 2 Chronicles 25:20-24 See also 2 Chronicles 13:1-3

Attacks within the church

James 4:1-2 See also Philippians 3:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; James 4:11-12; 1 Peter 3:9

Examples of individuals who were attacked

Genesis 4:8; Acts 16:22 See also Exodus 21:12-20; 1 Samuel 19:9-10; Samuel 24:7

The danger of attack by Satan and his agents

1 Peter 5:8-9 See also Matthew 4:1-11 pp Luke 4:1-13; Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 11:7

God provides protection against both physical and spiritual attack

Ephesians 6:13-18 See also Psalm 7:10; Psalm 18:1-3; Psalm 138:7; 2 Timothy 4:18

See also

5290  defeat
5291  defence
5354  invasions
5527  shield
5529  sieges
5572  sword
5596  victory
5605  warfare
5612  weapons
5814  confrontation
5975  violence
8482  spiritual warfare