161 Adjutant

Museum Description: Battle Scene

Room: 7/Case: None/Number: WA 124540

Scripture: 2 Kings 9:25

The term 'adjutant' is used nine times in the Bible, in the books of Kings and in 2 Chronicles.  This image helps us to understand the meaning of this unfamiliar term.  The English word literally means 'one that helps', whereas the Hebrew word means 'third man'.  It refers to the third warrior in a chariot, as we can see here.  One is the driver, one fights with either a sword, lance or bow, and the third usually carried a shield.  It had the extended meaning that this person was an assistant commander, and so a measure of responsibility and trust was placed upon them.  It is interesting to see where they appear in the Scriptures, often as a trusted servant of the king who was used to carry out his will.  We can imagine if he was the person standing behind someone in a war chariot, protecting them with a shield, it would want to be someone they could trust!