Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, assailants are individuals or groups who attack, oppose, or bring harm to others, often in a violent or aggressive manner. The concept of assailants is woven throughout the biblical narrative, illustrating both physical and spiritual confrontations faced by God's people.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the Israelites frequently encountered assailants as they journeyed to the Promised Land and established themselves as a nation. These adversaries often came in the form of neighboring tribes and nations. For instance, the Philistines were persistent assailants of Israel, as seen in the account of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17). The Philistines' aggression against Israel is a recurring theme, highlighting the constant threat of external assailants.
The book of Judges also provides numerous examples of assailants. The Israelites faced oppression from various groups, such as the Midianites and the Ammonites, due to their disobedience to God.
Judges 6:3-4 describes the Midianites' attacks: "Whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples invaded the country. They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys."
Spiritual AssailantsBeyond physical assailants, the Bible also addresses spiritual assailants. Satan is depicted as the ultimate spiritual adversary, seeking to assail and devour believers. In the book of Job, Satan acts as an assailant by challenging Job's faith and integrity (
Job 1:6-12). The New Testament echoes this theme, with
1 Peter 5:8 warning believers: "Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the early Christians faced assailants in the form of persecution from both Jewish and Roman authorities. The Apostle Paul, in particular, encountered numerous assailants during his missionary journeys. In
2 Corinthians 11:24-26 , Paul recounts his experiences: "Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea. In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers."
Response to AssailantsThe Bible provides guidance on how to respond to assailants. Jesus taught His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (
Matthew 5:44). This radical approach emphasizes forgiveness and the transformative power of love. Additionally, believers are encouraged to trust in God's protection and deliverance.
Psalm 18:3 declares, "I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies."
ConclusionThroughout Scripture, the presence of assailants serves as a reminder of the fallen nature of the world and the spiritual battle that believers face. The Bible encourages reliance on God's strength and the practice of love and forgiveness in the face of opposition.
Strong's Hebrew
6965. qum -- to arise, stand up, stand... up, stand NASB Word Usage accomplished (1), accuses (1), arise (103), arise and
let us go (1), arisen (1), arises (6), arose (136),
assailants (1), assume (1
...Library
Light after Darkness
... Profound gloom enveloped him. His every sense was frustrated. Some one of his
assailants had found his heart with a knife and this was death, he thought....
The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty --(Continued)
... On a day when theassailants and besieged were about to come to close quarters,
the Amorites let loose a mare among the chariotry of Thutmosis....
The First Blast of Tempest
... ages. The motives actuating theassailants are significantly analysed,
and may be distributed among the three classes enumerated....
The Glory of the Cross
... It is the object of constant attack on the part of itsassailants: and believers
are content too often to accept it "on faith," which means that they despair...
The Young Titus
... preserving him for its own work, dodged javelins and, enraging the white stallion
that he rode, kept out of reach of hand-to-hand encounter with hisassailants...
In the Desert
... He released his grip on the throat of the strangling servitor and flung off his
otherassailants.... Hisassailants had hurt him more than he had thought....
'More than Conquerors through Him'
... There was no time for manoeuvring, and nothing for it but to face both
assailants. So, without hesitation he made his dispositions....
Appendix i. Pericope De Adultera.
... If she was innocent, nothing followed. And now, who sees not that the Holy One dealt
with His hypocriticalassailants, as if they had been the accused parties?...
The Burning of Athens.
... is usually a dangerous attempt, even if the assaulting party is the strongest, as,
in the darkness and confusion which then prevail, theassailants can not...
The Massacre
... were struck down by stones from the windows, or pierced with arrows, or beaten to
the ground with clubs and swords, for every one of theirassailants whom they...
Thesaurus
Assailants (7 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Assailants (7 Occurrences). 2 Samuel 22:40 For
you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have
...Siege (63 Occurrences)
... Lachish an inhabitant is seen hurling a lighted torch from the wall; and it was
a common device to pour boiling water or oil from the wall upon theassailants....
Rabbah (14 Occurrences)
... After David had subdued all their allies in a great war, he sent Joab with a strong
force to take their city. For two years it held out against itsassailants....
Minni (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MINNI. min'-i (minni): A kingdom mentioned in
Jeremiah 51:27, along with Ararat and Ashkenaz, asassailants of Babylon....
Bowing (35 Occurrences)
... bou'-ing (naTah, "to incline," "bulge"): The Psalmist'sassailants expected that
he would be "like a leaning (the King James Version "bowing") wall" (Psalm 62:3...
Acco (2 Occurrences)
... like Tyre and Sidon, too strong for them to attack and it became indeed a fortress
of unusual strength, so that it many a siege, often baffling itsassailants....
Assailed (3 Occurrences)
Assailant (1 Occurrence)
Savior (60 Occurrences)
... Psalms 17:7 Make passing great Thy mercies, O Thou that savest by Thy right hand
fromassailants them that take refuge in Thee. (See NAS RSV)....
Daniel (74 Occurrences)
... 1. The Predictions: Theassailants of the genuineness of Daniel on the ground of
the predictions found therein, may be divided into two classes-those who deny...
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