Enemies of Israel and Judah

Enemies of Israel

The Egyptians

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The Amalekites

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The Philistines

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The Assyrians

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The Babylonians

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Those opposed to the rebuilding under Ezra and Nehemiah

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Haman the Persian

Esther 3:5–6 NASB95

When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

The Greeks

Zechariah 9:13 NASB95

For I will bend Judah as My bow, I will fill the bow with Ephraim. And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece; And I will make you like a warrior’s sword.

The Romans

John 11:48 NASB95

“If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

The Edomites

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Sihon, king of the Amorites

Numbers 21:23 NASB95

But Sihon would not permit Israel to pass through his border. So Sihon gathered all his people and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel.

Og, king of Bashan

Numbers 21:33 NASB95

Then they turned and went up by the way of Bashan, and Og the king of Bashan went out with all his people, for battle at Edrei.

The Canaanites and the surrounding nations

Joshua 11:1–5 NASB95

Then it came about, when Jabin king of Hazor heard of it, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon and to the king of Shimron and to the king of Achshaph, and to the kings who were of the north in the hill country, and in the Arabah—south of Chinneroth and in the lowland and on the heights of Dor on the west— to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Jebusite in the hill country, and the Hivite at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mizpeh. They came out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. So all of these kings having agreed to meet, came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.

The Syrians (Arameans)

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The Moabites

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The Ammonites

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The Midianites

Judges 6:1 NASB95

Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord gave them into the hands of Midian seven years.

Characteristics of Israel’s enemies

They were often more numerous than Israel

1 Samuel 13:5 NASB95

Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

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They were often better equipped

Joshua 17:16 NASB95

The sons of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the valley land have chariots of iron, both those who are in Beth-shean and its towns and those who are in the valley of Jezreel.”

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They were cruel and oppressive

Jeremiah 6:23 NASB95

“They seize bow and spear; They are cruel and have no mercy; Their voice roars like the sea, And they ride on horses, Arrayed as a man for the battle Against you, O daughter of Zion!”

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They were cunning

Psalm 83:3 NASB95

They make shrewd plans against Your people, And conspire together against Your treasured ones.

They were determined to destroy Israel

Psalm 83:4 NASB95

They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, That the name of Israel be remembered no more.”

They were often in league with each other

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God helped Israel against her enemies

He opposed Israel’s enemies

Genesis 12:3 NASB95

And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

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He protected Israel

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He delivered Israel

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He gave Israel victory

Exodus 23:27 NASB95

“I will send My terror ahead of you, and throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.

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He destroyed Israel’s enemies

Exodus 15:6 NASB95

“Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.

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He gave Israel rest

Deuteronomy 12:10 NASB95

“When you cross the Jordan and live in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies around you so that you live in security,

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Israel’s attitude towards her enemies

Israel was not to fear them

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 NASB95

“When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you. “When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people. “He shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’

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Israel was to pray for deliverance

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Kindness was to be shown to Israel’s enemies

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Thanksgiving for victory over Israel’s enemies

Giving thanks to God was the proper response to victory

Exodus 15:1 NASB95

Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and said, “I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.

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Israel often forgot to give thanks to God

Judges 8:33–34 NASB95

Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god. Thus the sons of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side;

God used enemies to chastise Israel

Deuteronomy 28:47–48 NASB95

“Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in the lack of all things; and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.

See also Because of his covenant, the Lord was unwilling to destroy Israel completely at the hand of her enemies; ; ; ;