Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage:The term "muster" in the biblical context generally refers to the act of assembling troops or gathering people for a specific purpose, often for military service or battle. It involves organizing and preparing individuals for a task, typically under the leadership of a commander or leader. The concept of mustering is seen throughout the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament, where it is associated with the preparation for warfare and the mobilization of the Israelites.
Biblical References:1.
Numbers 1:3-4 : "You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army. And one man from each tribe, the head of each family, must be there with you." This passage describes the command given to Moses and Aaron to muster the men of Israel for military service. It highlights the importance of organization and leadership in preparing for battle.
2.
1 Samuel 15:4 : "So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah." Here, King Saul musters the Israelite army to fight against the Amalekites, demonstrating the king's role in gathering and preparing the people for war.
3.
2 Samuel 24:9 : "Joab reported to the king the number of the fighting men: In Israel there were 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword, and in Judah 500,000." This verse recounts the census taken by Joab at King David's command, which involved mustering the fighting men of Israel and Judah. The act of mustering here is linked to the broader narrative of David's reign and the consequences of his actions.
4.
Isaiah 13:4 : "Listen, a tumult on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations gathered together! The LORD of Hosts is mustering an army for war." In this prophetic vision, the Lord Himself is depicted as mustering an army, emphasizing His sovereignty and power over the nations. The imagery conveys the divine orchestration of events and the ultimate authority of God in the affairs of men.
Theological Significance:The concept of mustering in the Bible underscores themes of divine order, leadership, and preparation. It reflects the necessity of readiness and the importance of following God's commands in the face of challenges. Mustering is often associated with obedience to divine instructions, as seen in the accounts of Israel's military campaigns and the prophetic imagery of God's judgment.
In a broader theological sense, mustering can also be understood as a metaphor for spiritual readiness and the call to be prepared for the battles of faith. Believers are encouraged to be vigilant and equipped, drawing parallels to the spiritual armor described in
Ephesians 6:10-18. The act of mustering, therefore, serves as a reminder of the need for discipline, unity, and reliance on God's guidance in both physical and spiritual endeavors.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To call together; as to muster troops for inspection.
2. (n.) A show; a display.
3. (n.) An assembling or review of troops, as for parade, verification of numbers, inspection, exercise, or introduction into service.
4. (n.) The sum total of an army when assembled for review and inspection; the whole number of effective men in an army.
5. (v. t.) Any assemblage or display; a gathering.
6. (v. t.) To collect and display; to assemble, as troops for parade, inspection, exercise, or the like.
7. (v. t.) Hence: To summon together; to enroll in service; to get together.
8. (v. i.) To be gathered together for parade, inspection, exercise, or the like; to come together as parts of a force or body; as, his supporters mustered in force.
Strong's Hebrew
6485. paqad -- to attend to, visit,muster, appoint... paqad. 6486 . to attend to, visit,
muster, appoint. Transliteration: paqad Phonetic
Spelling: (paw-kad') Short Definition: numbered. Word Origin a prim.
...4662. miphqad -- amuster, appointment, appointed place
... 4661, 4662. miphqad. 4663 . amuster, appointment, appointed place.
Transliteration: miphqad Phonetic Spelling: (mif-kawd') Short Definition: place....
6633. tsaba -- to wage war, serve
... assemble, fight, perform,muster, wait upon, war. A primitive root; to mass (an
army or servants) -- assemble, fight, perform,muster, wait upon, war....
6486. pequddah -- oversight, mustering, visitation, store
... visitation, store NASB Word Usage administrators (1), affairs (1), appointed (1),
care (1), class (1), executioners (1), fate (1),muster (2), office (1...
5737. adar -- to help
... A primitive root; to arrange, as a battle, a vineyard (to hoe); hence, tomuster
and so to miss (or find wanting) -- dig, fail, keep (rank), lack....
1413. gadad -- to penetrate, cut
... root Definition to penetrate, cut NASB Word Usage cut (2), gash (2), gashed
(1),muster yourselves in troops (1), together (1), trooped (1)....
4487. manah -- to count, number, reckon
... root Definition to count, number, reckon NASB Word Usage appoint (1), appointed
(9), count (3), counted (2), counts (1), destine (1),muster (1), number (4...
5739. eder -- a flock, herd
... drove, flock, herd. From adar; an arrangement, ieMuster (of animals) -- drove,
flock, herd. see HEBREW adar. 5738, 5739. eder. 5740 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Three Names High on theMuster-Roll
... Three Names High on theMuster-roll. A Sermon (No.2217). Intended for Reading
on Lord's-Day, August 16th, 1891,. Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,....
To Olympias. Having Risen from the Very Gates of Death I Address...
... reputation have been turned to flight, all lying prostrate before the eyes of the
world, and this not after a severe onslaught, nor any alarmingmuster of the...
Soldier Priests
... power' is not a mere synonym for 'the time of Thy might,' but means specifically
'the day of Thine army,' that is, 'the day when Thou dostmuster Thy forces...
Our Captain
... day which to further and fight for is the bounden duty of every Christian, and to
further and fight for which will tax all the courage that any of us canmuster...
Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891
... A Prayer for You. The Lad's Loaves in the Lord's Hands. Three Names High on the
Muster-roll. "Is the Spirit of the Lord Straitened?". A Harp of Ten Strings....
Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire...
... The Assyrian troops had lost none of their former valour, and theirmuster-roll
showed no trace of diminution, but their leaders had lost the power of handling...
Talmage -- a Bloody Monster
... Could themuster-roll of this great army be called, and could they come up from
the dead, what eye could endure the reeking, festering putrefaction?...
Commendation for the Steadfast
... A church may have a very shortmuster-roll, and yet it may be very dear to God,
who thinks more of quality than of quantity, more of obedience than of numbers....
Phrases for Talkers
... PHRASES FOR TALKERS. It is said of Macaulay that he never allowed a sentence
to passmuster until it was as good as he could make it....
Swooning and Reviving Christ's Feet.
... John. The Lord Himself gives us our watchword as wemuster our band for
the last assembly. "Remember Me," is His loving command....
Thesaurus
Muster (9 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To call together; as to
muster troops for
inspection.
... Multi-Version Concordance
Muster (9 Occurrences).
...Mustered (28 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) ofMuster. Multi-Version Concordance... 1 Samuel 14:17 Then said Saul to
the people that were with him,Muster now, and see who is gone from us....
Gather (251 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To bring together; to collect, as a number of separate things, into one
place, or into one aggregate body; to assemble; tomuster; to congregate....
Gog (12 Occurrences)
... (3) In Revelation 20:7 Satan is let loose and goes to the four corners of the earth,
Gog and Magog, tomuster his hosts for the final struggle against God....
Reconciliation (11 Occurrences)
... On one occasion when the Philistines gathered together to battle against Israel,
David and his band of men accompanied Achish king of Gath to themuster-place....
Mustard-seed (5 Occurrences)
Mustard-seed. Mustard, Mustard-seed.Muster . Multi-Version Concordance
Mustard-seed (5 Occurrences).... (WBS). Mustard, Mustard-seed.Muster . Reference
Armour-bearer (14 Occurrences)
... land. (DBY JPS). 1 Samuel 14:17 Then said Saul to the people that were with
him,Muster now, and see who is gone from us. And they...
Reconcile (10 Occurrences)
... On one occasion when the Philistines gathered together to battle against Israel,
David and his band of men accompanied Achish king of Gath to themuster-place....
Agreed (31 Occurrences)
... Naphtali. (See NIV). 1 Kings 20:25Muster an army, like the army that you
have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. We...
Accordingly (34 Occurrences)
... David. (See NAS). 1 Kings 20:25Muster an army, like the army that you have
lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. We will...
Resources
What was/is the importance of the gates of Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the works of the law (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16)? | GotQuestions.orgWho is the king of the North in Daniel 11? | GotQuestions.orgMuster: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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