Ancient Jewish Armies 1200–586 BC

This fully illustrated study examines the Jewish armies of the Near East and traces the evolution of their organization and tactics across more than six tumultuous centuries. From their origins as nomadic shepherd warriors employed as mercenaries by the Egyptians and other major civilizations of the Near East, the Jewish people evolved into a nation, Israel, which became the central force in the history of the Fertile Crescent. Drawing upon the latest research and findings, the authors chart the evolution of Jewish military organization and customs from the conquest of Canaan to conflicts with neighbours and settlers, most notably the Philistines, as the Jewish tribes gathered under the command of a monarch, Saul. The Jewish victories over the Philistines were led by David, conqueror of Jerusalem. David’s son Solomon reorganized the army, which became permanent with specialized troop types such as chariots, as Israel’s military drew upon Egyptian, Hittite, Assyrian and Babylonian practice. The authors explain how after Solomon’s death, the kingdom split in two, with Judah in the south and Israel in the north. Israel fell under Assyrian domination in 721 BC, while Judah survived until the war with the Neo-Babylonian Empire of Nebuchadnezzar, who conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple in 586 BC. The warriors fighting for Israel and Judah are revealed in this fully illustrated account.