The LORD Is a Man of War Yet Forever Unchanging

"The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name." This verse is rich in many places. It tells that He revealed Himself to them with every kind of weapon. He appeared to them as a horseman, as it is said, "He rode upon a cherub and flew" (Psalms 18:11). He appeared to them in coat of mail and helmet, as it is said, "He put on righteousness as a coat of mail, and a helmet of salvation on His head" (Isaiah 59:17). He appeared to them as a warrior girded with a sword, as it is said, "Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O mighty one" (Psalms 45:4). He appeared to them with a bow, as it is said, "You laid bare Your bow" (Habakkuk 3:9). He appeared with buckler and shield, as it is said, "Take hold of shield and buckler" (Psalms 35:2). He appeared to them with a spear, as it is said, "at the flash of Your glittering spear" (Habakkuk 3:11). I might think that He needs all these weapons; therefore Scripture says, "The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name" — with His name He makes war, and needs none of these. If so, why did Scripture need to specify all these verses? To say that if Israel should need any one of them, He performs it for them. Woe to the nations of the world for what their ears hear: that He who spoke and the world came to be is destined to make war upon them. Another interpretation: "The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name." Because, when the Holy One, blessed be He, revealed Himself at the Sea, He appeared to them as a young man waging war, as it is said, "The LORD is a man of war"; and He revealed Himself at Sinai as an elder wrapped in a cloak, as it is said, "I beheld until thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool" (Daniel 7:9). One might think they are two powers; therefore Scripture says, "the LORD is His name." Another interpretation: "the LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name" — He waged war in Egypt and He at the Sea, He at the Jordan and He at the streams of Arnon, He in this world and He in the world to come, He in the past and He in the future, as it is said, "See now that I, even I, am He" (Deuteronomy 32:39), and "I, the LORD, the first, and with the last, I am He" (Isaiah 41:4). Another interpretation: "the LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name." A warrior may stand in battle with his strength upon him like a man of forty, but he is not like one of sixty or seventy, for as he ages his strength wanes. But He who spoke and the world came to be is not so: "the LORD is a man of war" who fought in Egypt, and "the LORD is His name" in the past and in the future alike, as it is said, "For I the LORD do not change" (Malachi 3:6). Another interpretation: a warrior may stand in battle, and once the arrow leaves his hand he cannot recall it; but He who spoke and the world came to be is not so. When Israel does not do the will of the Omnipresent, a decree goes forth from before Him, as it is said, "If I whet My flashing sword" (Deuteronomy 32:41); if they repent, He recalls it, as it is said, "and My hand takes hold of judgment." I might think He recalls it empty; therefore Scripture says, "I will return vengeance upon My foes" — I turn it back upon the nations of the world. Another interpretation: a warrior may stand, and when jealousy and fury clothe him, he does not distinguish even his father or brother or kin, but strikes and goes on in his rage. But He who spoke and the world came to be is not so: "the LORD is a man of war" who wages war, and even so, "the LORD is His name" — He is merciful to all His creatures, for what is His name? "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness" (Exodus 34:6).