Ernest Renan

History of the People of Israel Vol. 2 Ernest Renan

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IT. MILITARY ORGANISATION. It was in war, more especially, that the nascent kingdom of Israel inaugurated a new era, essentially different from earlier times. The strong force which David had got together at Adullam and at Ziklag became the nucleus of an excellent permanent army, which enjoyed, in its time, supremacy through all the south of Syria. Up to that time, Israel had been exposed to perpetual attacks from its ne'ghbours, and had always proved itself inferior to the Philistines. Now, the Philistines are about to be subdued, and the neighbouring peoples made tributary. Israel is about to form a regular kingdom, dwelling in safety behind its frontiers, and for a time exercising dominion over neighbouring states. What had characterised the epoch of the Judges, and had led to the defeats of Israel, were the want of precaution and the inferiority of arms. David made an ample provision of weapons of defence, which were stored in the citadel of Jerusalem.* * Song of Solomon, ch. iv. v. 4. Up to that time, the gibbor had owned his own arms, which, in consequence, were often of inferior quality or badly cared for. The man of war was now equipped by the Ving, and those innumerable episodes where the Philistine, with a strong helmet, a long lance, and porfected cuirass, mocked at the Israelite, armed with nothing but a sling or a short sword * did not again occur. An army, in ancient times, could nearly always trace its origin to a band of robbers, or what amounts to the same thing, to men who were unwilling to work and who determined to live upon the work of others. As a matter of course, these brigands, once their authority was recognised over a certain area of country, became the natural protectors of those who laboured for them....