5266 conscription

The compulsory calling up of people to service, especially military service. The OT refers to men being conscripted to serve in the army, or in major building projects.

Men conscripted to serve in the army

Moses drew up lists of potential fighting men for the conquest of Canaan Nu 1:2-3 See also Nu 1:17-19,45-46 Moses took a second census, after the generation which had come out of Egypt had died: Nu 26:2,3-4,63-65

Deborah called up troops to attack Jabin, a Canaanite king Jdg 4:4-7

God restricted the number of men conscripted by Gideon Jdg 7:1-8 The purpose of this was to make clear that Israel’s victory was in God’s strength alone.

The Benjamites raised a tribal militia to fight the rest of Israel Jdg 20:15-17

King Saul chose men to fight the Philistines 1Sa 13:2; 1Sa 14:52

King David maintained a regular army 1Ch 27:1-15

The conscription of labourers

Those in charge of conscription 2Ki 25:19 pp Jer 52:25

Solomon used conscripts to build the temple and other projects 1Ki 5:13-15 pp 2Ch 2:2; 1Ki 9:15,20-21 pp 2Ch 8:7-8

See also