Hypertext Webster Gateway: "army"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Army
The Israelites marched out of Egypt in military order (Ex.
13:18, "harnessed;" marg., "five in a rank"). Each tribe formed
a battalion, with its own banner and leader (Num. 2:2; 10:14).
In war the army was divided into thousands and hundreds under
their several captains (Num. 31:14), and also into families
(Num. 2:34; 2 Chr. 25:5; 26:12). From the time of their entering
the land of Canaan to the time of the kings, the Israelites made
little progress in military affairs, although often engaged in
warfare. The kings introduced the custom of maintaining a
bodyguard (the Gibborim; i.e., "heroes"), and thus the nucleus
of a standing army was formed. Saul had an army of 3,000 select
warriors (1 Sam. 13:2; 14:52; 24:2). David also had a band of
soldiers around him (1 Sam. 23:13; 25:13). To this band he
afterwards added the Cherethites and the Pelethites (2 Sam.
15:18; 20:7). At first the army consisted only of infantry (1
Sam. 4:10; 15:4), as the use of horses was prohibited (Deut.
17:16); but chariots and horses were afterwards added (2 Sam.
8:4; 1 Kings 10:26, 28, 29; 1 Kings 9:19). In 1 Kings 9:22 there
is given a list of the various gradations of rank held by those
who composed the army. The equipment and maintenance of the army
were at the public expense (2 Sam. 17:28, 29; 1 Kings 4:27;
10:16, 17; Judg. 20:10). At the Exodus the number of males above
twenty years capable of bearing arms was 600,000 (Ex. 12:37). In
David's time it mounted to the number of 1,300,000 (2 Sam.
24:9).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Army \Ar"my\, n. [F. arm['e]e, fr. L. armata, fem. of armatus,
p. p. of armare to arm. Cf. {Armada}.]
1. A collection or body of men armed for war, esp. one
organized in companies, battalions, regiments, brigades,
and divisions, under proper officers.
2. A body of persons organized for the advancement of a
cause; as, the Blue Ribbon Army.
3. A great number; a vast multitude; a host.
An army of good words. --Shak.
{Standing army}, a permanent army of professional soldiers,
as distinguished from militia or volunteers.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
army
n 1: an organization of military land forces [syn: {regular army}]
2: a large number of people united for some specific purpose
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