Topical Encyclopedia Despoiling, in the biblical context, refers to the act of plundering, looting, or stripping someone of their possessions, often in the aftermath of a military conquest or divine judgment. This concept is prevalent throughout the Scriptures, illustrating both the consequences of disobedience to God and the fulfillment of divine justice.Old Testament Context In the Old Testament, despoiling is frequently associated with the Israelites' conquests and the divine mandate to claim the Promised Land. One notable instance is the despoiling of the Egyptians during the Exodus. As the Israelites prepared to leave Egypt, God instructed them to ask the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold. The Egyptians, eager to see the Israelites depart after the plagues, complied, thus fulfilling God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would leave their bondage with great possessions (Exodus 12:35-36). The conquest of Canaan also involved despoiling, as the Israelites were commanded to destroy the inhabitants and take possession of the land. In Joshua 8:2, God instructed Joshua regarding the city of Ai, saying, "Do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves." This directive highlights the role of despoiling as part of God's judgment against the Canaanites for their iniquity. Prophetic Warnings and Judgments The prophets often warned Israel and other nations of impending despoiling as a consequence of their sin and rebellion against God. In Isaiah 10:6, God speaks of using Assyria as the rod of His anger, sending them against a "godless nation" to seize spoil and plunder. Similarly, in Jeremiah 30:16, God promises that those who despoil Israel will themselves be despoiled: "But all who devour you will be devoured; all your adversaries—every one of them—will go off into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who despoil you will be despoiled." New Testament Perspective While the New Testament does not focus extensively on the concept of despoiling in the same military or material sense as the Old Testament, it does address spiritual despoiling. Colossians 2:15 speaks of Christ's victory over spiritual powers: "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." Here, the despoiling is metaphorical, referring to Christ's triumph over sin and death, stripping the spiritual forces of their power. Moral and Theological Implications Despoiling in the Bible serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and justice. It underscores the principle that disobedience and sin lead to loss and judgment, while obedience and faithfulness result in blessing and provision. The despoiling of enemies often symbolizes the transfer of wealth and power from the wicked to the righteous, reflecting God's ultimate authority over nations and individuals. Throughout Scripture, despoiling is depicted as both a tool of divine retribution and a means of fulfilling God's promises to His people. It serves as a powerful illustration of the consequences of sin and the reality of divine justice, reminding believers of the importance of aligning with God's will and purposes. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Despoil.Library Indignant Irony Exposing the Valentinian Fable About the Judicial ... Man, O Death, Despise Thou it Not, that Image of Adam: which Like ... Jewish Criticism of the Law of Christ. Divine Love, the Principle of all Good. Melito and the Circumstances which He Records. How Throughout all the East the Services of Tierce, Sext, and None ... Whether Christ Descending into Hell Delivered the Holy Fathers ... Whether Circumcision was a Preparation For, and a Figure of ... Whether it was Fitting for Christ to Descend into Hell? Whether Christ's Cross Should be Worshipped with the Adoration of ... Thesaurus Despoiling (1 Occurrence)... n.) of Despoil. Multi-Version Concordance Despoiling (1 Occurrence). Jeremiah 25:36 Hark! the cry of the shepherds, and the wailing of the leaders of the flock! ... /d/despoiling.htm - 6k Despoils (1 Occurrence) Despoileth (2 Occurrences) Tabernacle (333 Occurrences) Resources Despoiling: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Despoiling (1 Occurrence)Jeremiah 25:36 Subtopics Related Terms |
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