Soldiers

How Nave’s arranged it

• Military enrollment of Israel in the wilderness of SinaiNumbers 1Numbers 2
• On the plains of MoabNumbers 26
• Levies of, in the ratio of one man to ten subject to dutyJudges 20:10
• Dressed in scarletNahum 2:3
• Cowards excused from duty asDeuteronomy 20:8Judges 7:3
• Others exempt from serviceDeuteronomy 20:5–9Deuteronomy 24:5
• Come to JohnLuke 3:14
• Mock JesusMatthew 27:27–31Mark 15:16–20Luke 23:11Luke 23:36Luke 23:37
• Officers concerned in the betrayal of JesusLuke 22:4
• Crucified JesusMatthew 27:27Matthew 27:31–37Mark 15:16–24John 19:23John 19:24
• Guard the gravesite of JesusMatthew 27:65Matthew 28:11–15
• Guard prisonersActs 12:4–6Acts 28:16

The passages, in Bible order (38)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Numbers 1:1

   On the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai. He said:

   ›Commentary on Numbers 1:11 voice

   “A month had passed away since the setting up of the tabernacle Exo 40:2, Exo 40:17: and the Sinaitic legislation was now complete (compare Lev 27:34). A census (“sum”) was commanded, to be based not upon any fresh registration of individuals, but upon that which had accompanied the previous collection of the offerings. Compare Exo 30:11, etc.; Exo 38:25-

   Everything gathered on Numbers 1:1→

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2. Numbers 2:1

   Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron:

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Numbers 26:1

   After the plague had ended, the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,

   ›Commentary on Numbers 26:11 voice

   “After the plague - These words serve to show approximately the date at which the census was taken, and intimate the reason for the great decrease in numbers which was found to have taken place in certain tribes. Compare Deu 4:3 and Num 26:5 note in this chapter.

   Everything gathered on Numbers 26:1→

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4. Deuteronomy 20:5–9

   Furthermore, the officers are to address the army, saying, “Has any man built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man dedicate it.

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 20:5–92 voices

   “Again, the law in its humanity says that if a man has built a new house but has not yet moved in, or laid out a new vineyard but has not yet enjoyed the fruit, or become betrothed to a girl but has not yet married her, he is to be excused military service. This makes military sense, since we would be unenthusiastic in our military service if we were being pulled in the direction of the things we longed for. People expose themselves to danger without a second thought only if they are free in relation to natural impulses.

   “The officers dedicated it - See Exo 5:6 note. Compare the marginal references. The expression is appropriate, because various ceremonies of a religious kind were customary among the Jews on taking possession of a new house. The immunity conferred in this verse lasted, like that in Deu 20:7 (compare Deu 24:5), for one year.

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 20:5–9→

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5. Deuteronomy 20:8

   Then the officers shall speak further to the army, saying, “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him return home, so that the hearts of his brothers will not melt like his own.”

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 20:81 voice

   “What man is there that is fearful and faint - hearted? - The original רך rach, signifies tender or soft-hearted. And a soft heart the man must have who, in such a contest, after such a permission, could turn his back upon his enemies and his brethren. However, such were the troops commanded by Gideon in his war against the Midianites; for after he gave this permission, out of 32,000 men only 10,000 remained to fight! Jdg 7:

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6. Deuteronomy 24:5

   If a man is newly married, he must not be sent to war or be pressed into any duty. For one year he is free to stay at home and bring joy to the wife he has married.

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 24:51 voice

   “When a man hath taken a new wife - Other people made a similar provision for such circumstances. Alexander ordered those of his soldiers who had married that year to spend the winter with their wives, while the army was in winter quarters. See Arrian, lib. i.

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 24:5→

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7. Judges 7:3

   Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand of them turned back, but ten thousand remained.

   ›Commentary on Judges 7:32 voices

   Does not the leader of our army, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, call out now to his soldiers and say, Whoever is "fearful and anxious of heart," let him not come to war with me? For this is also what he says in the Gospels in other words but with the same meaning: "Whoever does not take his own cross and come after me is not worthy of me," and again: "Whoever does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple."

   “The proclamation was in accordance with the Law (see the marginal reference). No mountain of the name of Gilead is known in this locality, and it has been conjectured that the right reading is Gilboa. Others think that this may be a form of proclamation customary in Manasseh.

   Everything gathered on Judges 7:3→

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8. Judges 20:10

   We will take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to supply provisions for the army when they go to Gibeah in Benjamin to punish them for the atrocity they have committed in Israel.”

   ›Commentary on Judges 20:101 voice

   “Ten men of a hundred - Expecting that they might have a long contest, they provide suttlers for the camp; and it is probable that they chose these tenths by lot.

   Everything gathered on Judges 20:10→

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9. Isaiah 59:16

   He saw that there was no man; He was amazed that there was no one to intercede. So His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness sustained Him.

   ›Commentary on Isaiah 59:162 voices

   “(Verse 16, 17.) And the Lord saw, and evil appeared in his eyes: because there is no justice, and he saw that there is no man, and he was astonished, because there is no one to oppose. And his own arm will save him: and his righteousness itself will strengthen him. He is clothed with righteousness as with a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head. He is clothed with garments of vengeance, and covered with a cloak of zeal.

   “And wondered that there was no intercessor - This and the following verses some of the most eminent rabbins understand as spoken of the Messiah. Kimchi says that Rabbi Joshua ben Levi proposes this objection: “It is written, ‘Behold, he will come in the clouds of heaven as the son of man,’ Dan 7:13; and elsewhere it is written, ‘He cometh lowly, and riding upon an ass,’ Zec 9:9. How can these texts be reconciled?

   Everything gathered on Isaiah 59:16→

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10. Isaiah 59:17

    He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.

    ›Commentary on Isaiah 59:172 voices

    “(Verse 16, 17.) And the Lord saw, and evil appeared in his eyes: because there is no justice, and he saw that there is no man, and he was astonished, because there is no one to oppose. And his own arm will save him: and his righteousness itself will strengthen him. He is clothed with righteousness as with a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head. He is clothed with garments of vengeance, and covered with a cloak of zeal.

    “For he put on righteousness - That is, God the Redeemer. The prophet here introduces him as going forth to vindicate his people clad like an ancient warrior. In the declaration that he ‘put on righteousness,’ the essential idea is, that he was pure and holy. The same image is used by the prophet in another figure in Isa 11:5 (see the note at that place). As a breastplate - The breastplate was a well-known piece of ancient armor, designed to defend the breast from the darts and the sword of an enemy.

    Everything gathered on Isaiah 59:17→

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11. Nahum 2:3

    The shields of his mighty men are red; the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariots flash like fire on the day they are prepared, and the spears of cypress have been brandished.

    ›Commentary on Nahum 2:31 voice

    “Army is arrayed against army; the armies, thus far, of God against the army of His enemy; all without is order; all within, confusion. The assailing army, from its compactness and unity, is spoken of, both as many and one. The might is of many; the order and singleness of purpose is as of one. The shield, collectively, not shields. “His mighty men;” He, who was last spoken of, was Almighty God, as He says in Isaiah; “I have commanded My consecrated ones; I have also called My mighty ones, them that rejoice in My highness” Isa 13:

    Everything gathered on Nahum 2:3→

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12. Matthew 27:27–31

    Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him.

    ›Commentary on Matthew 27:27–312 voices

    “He had been styled King of the Jews, and the Scribes and Priests had brought this charge against Him, that He claimed sovereignty over the Jewish nation; hence this mockery of the soldiers, taking away His own garments, they put on Him a scarlet cloak to represent that purple fringe which kings of old used to wear, for the diadem they put on Him a crown of thorns, and for the regal sceptre give Him a reed, and perform adoration to Him as to a king. All these things we may understand mystically.

    “See also Mar 15:15-20; Joh 19:1-3. Mat 27:27 Into the common hall - The original word here means, rather, the governor’s palace or dwelling. The trial of Jesus had taken place outside of the palace. The Jews would not enter in Joh 18:28, and it is probable that courts were held often in a larger and more public place than would be a room in his dwelling. Jesus, being condemned, was led by the soldiers away from the Jews “within” the palace, and subjected there to their profane mockery and sport.

    Everything gathered on Matthew 27:27–31→

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13. Matthew 27:31–37

    After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.

    ›Commentary on Matthew 27:31–371 voice

    “It is to be noted, that when Jesus is scourged and spit upon, He has not on His own garments, but those which He took for our sins; but when He is crucified, and the show of His mockery is completed, then He takes again His former garments, and His own dress, and immediately the elements are shaken, and the creature gives testimony to the Creator.

    Everything gathered on Matthew 27:31–37→

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14. Matthew 27:65

    “You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”

    ›Commentary on Matthew 27:652 voices

    “Ye have a watch - The Jews had a guard of Roman soldiers, who kept watch in the tower of Antonia, on the northwest of the temple. Pilate either referred to these, or to the “watch” that attended the crucifixion - the whole “band” that had been appointed for that. As the torments of crucifixion sometimes lasted many days, the band had been probably granted to them during that time, and they were therefore still at the direction of the chief priests.

    “Pilate's answer to their request is as much as to say, Be it enough for you that ye have conspired the death of an innocent man, henceforth let your error remain with you.

    Everything gathered on Matthew 27:65→

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15. Matthew 28:11–15

    While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.

    ›Commentary on Matthew 28:11–152 voices

    “The concealment of the Resurrection, and the false allegation of theft, is purchased by money; because by the honour of this world, which consists in money and desire, Christ's glory is denied.

    “Now when they were going,.... Or were gone from the sepulchre: that is, the women, Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, and their companions, when they were going, or gone, and before they could come to the disciples, to inform them of what they had seen and heard, and deliver the message both of the angel, and of Christ, unto them: behold, some of the watch came unto the city: that is, "of Jerusalem".

    Everything gathered on Matthew 28:11–15→

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16. Mark 15:16–20

    Then the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called the whole company together.

    ›Commentary on Mark 15:16–201 voice

    “Called Praetorium - The hall of the “praetor,” or Roman governor, where he sat to administer justice. Whole band - See the notes at Mat 27:27.

    Everything gathered on Mark 15:16–20→

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