Science Talk

Armin Held · Guest

Heavenly and earthly armies

Thus the heavens and the earth and all their host
(Hebrew: tsaba' = army, armed force, troop) were finished.
(Genesis 2:1)

The here used word tsaba' = army, service in war, host, fighting men is a
special term for armed forces in military conflicts. The next occurrence is
in Genesis 21:22, where it is used for an armed force. According to Gesenius
(Gesenius670) it is derived from ts-b-' = to wage war and is translated with
army, troops, divisions of an army, in the context with the heavens it
denotes the host of heaven (likewise Köhler/Baumgartner kbl 790).

It is interesting that in many cases the expression toledot = genealogies is
used in the context of military inspections, which are made to find out, how
many members of a certain family are qualified for military service:

And the sons of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, their generations (Hebrew:
toledot), after their families, ... every male from twenty years old and
upward, all that went forth to military service (Hebrew: tsaba') ...
(Numbers 1:20; likewise verses 22,24,26,28,30,32,34,36,38,40,42)

The use of tsaba' in Genesis 2:1 makes the report sound quite martial. In a
sinless and perfect creation this would make no sense, but before the
background of the tohuwabohu and a fallen creation this has a deep meaning.
When we take the statement of the Bible serious that the earth had been
devasteted and emptied (Hebrew: tohu wabohu; Genesis 1:2), we recognize that
a battle is going on in creation.

_The human dominion as a conquest_

Before the background of the tohuwabohu disaster we can understand much
better, why the commandment of God has such an aggressive tone: Subdue the
earth! (Genesis 1:2 Cool

We have already mentioned, that the word which the
original text uses here contains the idea of superiority and means to
trample down, subdue, force into service and often relates to the submission
of enemies and the overcoming of opposition. Indeed, it is an essential task
of every sovereign to establish and to secure peace in his territory.
Therefore the restauration of creation against the resistance of evil powers
is an indispensible component for the divinely-ordained dominion of mankind
over the earth.

The tohuwabohu was God's judgement for his enemies. Now the "armies of the
heavens and the earth" have the task to rescue the lost territory, to redeem
and to deliver the fallen creation. Finally, with the rise of mankind, God's
army is ready to go into the decisive battle. That man was created as a
physical and at the same time spirit-gifted being "in God's image" makes
clear, that this will be a spiritual fight which will include all aspects of
life on earth.

_Restoration - making good again_

The different works of God contributed to "repair" the damages which had
been caused by the disaster of creatures falling away from him. According to
God's explicit assessment the individual divine works were good, the entire
work after the appearance of humans even very good. Which was the purpose
that now could be fulfilled "very well" by this entire work? The aim was to
overcome the consequences of the disaster and to accomplish the original
intentions of God! This indeed is an essential part of the calling of
humanity:

For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation
of the sons of God ... in hope that creation itself would be set free
from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom
of the children of God.
Romans 8:19-21

Perhaps we start to comprehend the enormous significance of humanity's
calling: We shall deliver the corrupted part of creation from its desperate
condition! We have already realized that this will not be feasible without
combat. But the goal of this struggle can only be to overcome suffering and
death in creation and to achieve a stable peace a "glorious freedom" -
according to God's initial plans. The "armies of heaven and earth" are not
called to kill or to destroy, but their task is to bring healing and life -
to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

This fits together with the fact that tsaba' is also used for the service of
Israel's priests - forming a spiritual army (Numbers 4:3,30). Therefore the
army, according to God's intentions, does not leave behind a trail of
devastation, but restoration and a renewed creation. Like the stars in the
heavens, they shall bring light into a darkened world (Philippians 2:15).

The leader of this army is God himself, the LORD OF HOSTS
(Hebrew: JaHWeH tseba'ot = plural of tsaba') -
one of the most frequent titles of God in the Hebrew Bible ...

more: www.urzeitundendzeit.de/creation_and_evolution

Armin