David's Army

[AP930]

How was David's army so large in 2 Samuel 24:9? A million and three hundred is a lot of troops for an army isn't it?

May God Bless You All

[Durthorin]

How was David's army so large in 2 Samuel 24:9? A million and three hundred is a lot of troops for an army isn't it?

May God Bless You All

Well, if you study military logistics to any degree its the kind of number that you realize for the time is simply impossiable. It simply isn't feasable to fed and supply an army that size in the field with the technology available at the time.



Among the more important requirements of the logistics trains of ancient armies was the need to supply large numbers of men with adequate food and water. The animals required to haul supplies also had to be fed. The hot and dusty climate of the Middle East made the physical maintenance of the soldier's body even more difficult on the march. In this climate a soldier required 3,402 calories a day and 70 grams of protein to sustain him in minimal nutritional condition. In addition, a soldier required nine quarts of water a day. Modern analysis reveals that the standard ration of three pounds of wheat a day produced only 2,025 calories, insufficient to maintain even minimal nutritional requirements for very long. Thus, Alexander's army of 65,000 men required 195,000 pounds of grain and 325,000 pounds of water to sustain it for a single day! The army also required 375,000 pounds of forage per day to sustain cavalry, baggage, and transport animals. The ability of ancient armies to provide these requirements was nothing short of amazing.
As you can see Alexander's army number 65,000 men, the army your talking about is 20 times as large which would mean that one days supply for it would be 3,900,000 pounds of grain and 6,500,000 pounds of water for a SINGLE day.. A Ox drawn cart could haul a load of about 1,450... so your talking about about... 7,172 carts going one way.. for one day...

Now you get into the concept of the logistics train.. which means that the farther you move from your base of supply the more supply units you need.. look at that 7172 number.. that only works if your army is close enough to that your carts can load, travel, return and reload every 24 hours.. if not you have to have a second.. and third set of carts to move supplies towards your army ... even as the first supply units start their return trip... farther you go, the more units you have to have in transit.. You get around this by precreating forward supply bases and
"filling them up" before your army starts to move.


http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/gabrmetz/gabr0009.htm

http://books.google.com/books?id=72ZR9KCh9lUC&pg=RA1-PA113&lpg=RA1-PA113&dq=size+of+ancient+armies&source=web&ots=LNu5oMC6Su&sig=T_S7anm7wtewuXsevWutSFffmEw#PRA1-PA113,M1

[nomad]

On the other hand, some ancient sources put the Persian army at Thermopylae at 1.3 million. Herodotus puts it at around 300,000 IIRC. So, the number is not completely inconsistent with some ancient sources. They are also in question, of course, for similar reasons.

However, the verse mentioned is not really the numbering of an army on the move; it is the numbering of all men in Israel available for military service. Possibly the only criteria was owning a weapon and being of military age; if so, 1.3 million isn't completely impossible.

[Durthorin]

On the other hand, some ancient sources put the Persian army at Thermopylae at 1.3 million. Herodotus puts it at around 300,000 IIRC. So, the number is not completely inconsistent with some ancient sources. They are also in question, of course, for similar reasons.


True but the stated reason given for the Persian armies line of advance was that it was supplied by sea.. the defeat at Salamis therefore defeated the army as well since they were unable to sealift supplies to continue their advance.

[FreezBee]

However, the verse mentioned is not really the numbering of an army on the move; it is the numbering of all men in Israel available for military service. Possibly the only criteria was owning a weapon and being of military age; if so, 1.3 million isn't completely impossible.

Yes, please read the beginning of the chapter:

1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

This means, as nomad mentions, all the men of military age.

The number might still seem high, but at any rate, it is not the number of soldiers in an army :smile:


- FreezBee