In the biblical context, the concept of armies marching in ranks and the use of fortifications is a recurring theme that underscores the strategic and organized nature of ancient warfare. The Bible provides numerous accounts of military campaigns, highlighting the importance of discipline, order, and the use of fortified structures for defense and conquest.

March in Ranks

The imagery of armies marching in ranks is emblematic of discipline and unity. In the Old Testament, the Israelites are often depicted as a well-ordered host, particularly during their wilderness journey and subsequent conquests in the Promised Land. The organization of the Israelite camp, as described in the Book of Numbers, reflects a divinely ordained order, with each tribe having a specific position and role (Numbers 2:1-34). This arrangement not only facilitated movement but also symbolized the unity and strength of the people under God's command.

The prophet Joel uses the imagery of a disciplined army to describe the locust plague, likening it to a well-organized military force: "They charge like mighty men; they scale walls like men of war. Each one marches in formation, not swerving from the course" (Joel 2:7). This passage highlights the precision and determination characteristic of an effective army.

Fortifications

Fortifications played a crucial role in ancient warfare, serving as both defensive structures and symbols of power. The Bible frequently mentions fortified cities, walls, and towers, which were essential for the protection of inhabitants and the preservation of a nation's sovereignty.

Jericho is one of the most famous examples of a fortified city in the Bible. Its walls were formidable, yet they fell miraculously at the sound of the Israelites' trumpets and shouts, demonstrating God's power over human defenses (Joshua 6:1-20). This event underscores the belief that while human fortifications are significant, divine intervention can overcome even the most impregnable defenses.

King Solomon is noted for his extensive building projects, which included the fortification of cities. In 1 Kings 9:15, it is recorded: "This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon conscripted to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer" . These fortifications were vital for the security and prosperity of the kingdom.

The prophet Isaiah also speaks of fortifications in a spiritual sense, urging trust in God rather than in human defenses: "You have made a city a heap of rubble, a fortified town a ruin, the foreigners’ stronghold a city no more; it will never be rebuilt" (Isaiah 25:2). This reflects the biblical theme that true security is found in reliance on God rather than solely on physical structures.

In summary, the Bible presents the concepts of marching in ranks and fortifications as integral to the understanding of ancient military practices. These elements illustrate the importance of order, discipline, and reliance on divine guidance in achieving victory and maintaining security.Judges 9:31
And he sent messengers to Abimelech privately, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against you.
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2 Samuel 5:9
So David dwelled in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
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2 Kings 25:1
And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.
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2 Chronicles 11:11
And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
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2 Chronicles 26:9
Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
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Nehemiah 3:8
Next to him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next to him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem to the broad wall.
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Nehemiah 4:2
And he spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
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Isaiah 22:10
And you have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have you broken down to fortify the wall.
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Isaiah 25:12
And the fortress of the high fort of your walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.
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Isaiah 29:3
And I will camp against you round about, and will lay siege against you with a mount, and I will raise forts against you.
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Isaiah 32:14
Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;
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Jeremiah 6:6
For thus has the LORD of hosts said, Hew you down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the middle of her.
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Jeremiah 32:24
Behold the mounts, they are come to the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what you have spoken is come to pass; and, behold, you see it.
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Jeremiah 33:4
For thus said the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;
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Jeremiah 51:53
Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come to her, said the LORD.
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Ezekiel 4:2
And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about.
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Ezekiel 17:17
Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:
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Ezekiel 21:22
At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.
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Ezekiel 26:8
He shall slay with the sword your daughters in the field: and he shall make a fort against you, and cast a mount against you, and lift up the buckler against you.
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Ezekiel 33:27
Say you thus to them, Thus said the Lord GOD; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.
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Daniel 11:15,19
So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.
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Nahum 2:1
He that dashes in pieces is come up before your face: keep the fortification, watch the way, make your loins strong, fortify your power mightily.
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Nahum 3:14
Draw you waters for the siege, fortify your strong holds: go into clay, and tread the mortar, make strong the brick kiln.
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Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC )
... compensated for the losses in their ranks occasioned by war ... Above these, again, three
musicians march in procession ... to the manoeuvres of large armies, had always ...
/.../chapter iiisargon of assyria 722-705.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty
... those which were in vogue with the armies of the ... [Illustration: 322b.jpg TWO COMPANIES
ON THE MARCH]. ... foot-soldiers, and, breaking up their ranks, would tread ...
/.../chapter iiithe eighteenth theban dynasty.htm

Disestablishment
... the embargo, whose repeal took effect from March 4, 1809. ... "A nation without fleets,
without armies, with an ... increase of recruits from the Federal ranks as soon ...
/.../chapter xv disestablishment.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... of those at least who belonged to the league of Delos, and he promised that his
armies on land should never advance further than three days' march from the ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... contracted with them fruitful alliances, but Zoroaster broke up their ranks, and
prohibited ... On the march he fell in with a Persian groom named OEbaras,* who ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

The Close of the Theban Empire
... He was able, moreover, without arresting his march, to carry ... back by the soldiers
of the ranks, had introduced ... of the care of commanding their armies; and as ...
/.../chapter iiithe close of the.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... between Nebuchadrezzar and Astyages"The fortifications of Babylon ... converted all the
small feudal armies which had ... victories made in their ranks; enervated by ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... witnessed century after century so many armies crossing its ... could be reached only
after a march through a ... same articles of toilet, the same ranks of servants ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... in common with the general catastrophe occasioned by the movement of the Asiatic
armies. ... by its homogeneity of offering a serious resistance to the march of a ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... hand when the fear alone of the Assyrian armies would no ... delay: "Go, do not hesitate,
for we march with thee ... were required to fill the vacancies in the ranks. ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

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