In the biblical context, raids are sudden attacks or incursions, often by a group or army, with the intent of plundering or causing destruction. Raids are depicted throughout the Bible, primarily in the Old Testament, as a common form of warfare and conflict among nations and tribes. These events often highlight themes of divine justice, protection, and the consequences of disobedience to God.

Old Testament Instances

1. Abraham's Rescue of Lot: One of the earliest recorded raids in the Bible is Abraham's rescue of his nephew Lot. In Genesis 14, a coalition of kings led by Chedorlaomer raided Sodom and Gomorrah, capturing Lot and his possessions. Abraham, with 318 trained men, pursued and defeated the raiders, recovering Lot and his goods. This event underscores God's favor and protection over Abraham. Genesis 14:14-16 states, "When Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods, as well as his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people."

2. David's Raids: David, before becoming king, conducted raids while living among the Philistines. In 1 Samuel 27, David and his men raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, leaving no survivors to prevent news from reaching the Philistine king Achish. These raids were part of David's strategy to maintain favor with Achish while secretly supporting Israel. 1 Samuel 27:8-9 records, "Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these peoples had inhabited the land extending to Shur and Egypt.) Whenever David attacked a land, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but he took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothing. Then he would return to Achish."

3. Amalekite Raid on Ziklag: In 1 Samuel 30, while David and his men were away, the Amalekites raided Ziklag, burning it and taking captive the women and children, including David's two wives. Upon returning, David sought the Lord's guidance, pursued the Amalekites, and successfully recovered all the captives and possessions. This incident highlights the importance of seeking God's direction in times of crisis. 1 Samuel 30:18-19 states, "So David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing, young or old, son or daughter, or any of the plunder the Amalekites had taken. David brought everything back."

4. Philistine Raids: The Philistines frequently conducted raids against Israel during the time of the judges and the early monarchy. These raids were part of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Philistines, often serving as a backdrop for God's deliverance through leaders like Samson and Saul. In 1 Samuel 13:17-18 , it is noted, "And raiders went out of the Philistine camp in three divisions. One headed toward Ophrah in the land of Shual, another toward Beth-horon, and the third down the border road overlooking the Valley of Zeboim facing the wilderness."

Theological Implications

Raids in the Bible often serve as instruments of divine judgment or as tests of faith and leadership. They reveal the vulnerability of God's people when they stray from His commandments and the necessity of reliance on divine guidance for protection and victory. The narratives of raids also emphasize God's sovereignty and His ability to deliver His people from seemingly insurmountable odds.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The accounts of raids in the Bible raise questions about the ethics of warfare and the treatment of enemies. While some raids are depicted as acts of divine justice, others highlight the brutality and moral complexities of ancient warfare. These accounts invite reflection on the nature of justice, mercy, and the role of divine providence in human affairs.

Special Efforts
... Her patience was sorely tried when Salvationists thought their well-equipped hall
too good for drunkards' raids, and none the less when soldiers considered any ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/vi special efforts.htm

Kumaon.
... the ancestors of the Hindus, coming from Central Asia, crossed the Indus, and took
possession of the country now called the Punjab, they made raids into the ...
/.../kennedy/life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xx kumaon.htm

Affairs in the West
... Her family had suffered severely in the Gothic pillage, and as there was no security
that other barbarian raids might not be imminent, he was anxious to find ...
/.../chapter lxx affairs in the.htm

A Little Jewish Maid.
... One day, when he returned from one of these slave-raids, Naaman brought back with
him a little Jewish maid; and she looked so pretty with her dark eyes and ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/a little jewish maid.htm

The Life of Salvian
... Several years before Salvian settled in Marseilles, a poet beggared by the Gothic
raids sought refuge there, and found "many saints my dear friends." [10] Such ...
/.../salvian/on the government of god/ii the life of salvian.htm

Unexpected Orders
... never to say 'I can't.'. The air raids on London were very severe during
that twelve months. One Saturday night, Leyton suffered ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/xvi unexpected orders.htm

The Government of India.
... They made raids into our territory beneath the hills, and murdered and robbed our
subjects. The Marquess was extremely desirous to avoid a rupture with them. ...
/.../chapter xxxi the government of.htm

Against the Arians, and Concerning Himself.
... us, banded together against us by the Trinity whom we have separated; with this
difference that we are not foreigners making forays and raids upon foreigners ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxxiii against the arians.htm

Naaman
... Since that time the Syrians had maintained against Israel a constant border warfare,
and in one of their raids they had carried away a little maid who, in the ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 20 naaman.htm

Knox's Writings from Abroad: Beginning of the Scottish Revolution ...
... Border raids began; d'Oysel fortified Eyemouth, as a counterpoise to Berwick, war
was declared in November, and the discontented Scots, such as Chatelherault ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter viii knoxs writings from.htm

Raids (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Raids (4 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 27:8 And David
and his men went up, and made a raid upon the Geshurites ...
/r/raids.htm - 7k

Esdraelon
... 33:18), and ignobly to have secured enjoyment of the good things in the land by
stooping to "taskwork" (Genesis 49:14 f). 4. Arab Raids: Through many centuries ...
/e/esdraelon.htm - 15k

Rail (8 Occurrences)

/r/rail.htm - 11k

Raiding (11 Occurrences)

/r/raiding.htm - 10k

Plain (113 Occurrences)
... 33:18), and ignobly to have secured enjoyment of the good things in the land by
stooping to "taskwork" (Genesis 49:14 f). 4. Arab Raids: Through many centuries ...
/p/plain.htm - 71k

Uz (8 Occurrences)
... The country was subject to raids by Chaldeans and Sabeans (1:15, 17); Job's three
friends were a Temanite, a Naamathite and a Shuhite (2:11); Elihu was a ...
/u/uz.htm - 14k

Moabites (26 Occurrences)
... Rabbath-moab and Heshbon (modern Rabba and Hesban) are miserable villages, and the
country is subject to the raids of the Bedouin tribes of the neighboring ...
/m/moabites.htm - 28k

Amalekite (12 Occurrences)
... They were also associated with the Midianites in their raids upon Israel (Judges
6:3), and they seemed to have gained a foothold in Ephraim, or at least a ...
/a/amalekite.htm - 16k

Amalek (35 Occurrences)
... They were also associated with the Midianites in their raids upon Israel (Judges
6:3), and they seemed to have gained a foothold in Ephraim, or at least a ...
/a/amalek.htm - 22k

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