“Winning War through Weakness? The Counterintuitive Approach to Warfare in the Hebrew Bible”

This presentation examines the Hebrew Bible's counterintuitive approach to warfare, contrasting it with the power-focused narratives of the ancient Near East. Unlike neighboring nations that celebrated grand military conquests and amassed large armies, Israel was called to trust in God and avoid building up military might. This perspective challenges the notion that the Hebrew Bible glorifies warfare and encourages religious communities to approach even legitimate uses of power with caution.

Dr. Charlie Trimm

Charlie Trimm is an Associate Professor of Old Testament at Biola University in the United States. His research has focused on warfare in the ancient Near East, including common warfare practices (Fighting for the King and the Gods), theology of a divine warrior (“YHWH Fights for Them!”), the ethical problems of the conquest of Canaan (The Destruction of the Canaanites), and the violent prayers of Psalms (“Praying against Enemies”). Other research interests include Exodus, Old Testament Theology, and J.R.R. Tolkien.