The limited biblical legislation governing combat was not discussed or expanded in the historical account or by the prophets. For example, there was no discussion of the idealistic legislation of Deuteronomy which permitted exemption from military service for those who had built a new house and not yet enjoyed it, planted a vineyard and not yet harvested it, become engaged, but were not yet married, and included anyone who was afraid(Deut 20:5 ff.). Before engaging the enemy, an opportunity to surrender had to be offered (Deut 20:10). There was a discussion of captives generally and of female captives whom a soldier wished to marry(Deut 21:10). A siege was not to destroy valuable trees(Deut 20:19 f.). War along with the treatment of the enemy was harsh, often cruel, and the reports contained only the facts without moral comment(Ex 17:9; Deut 7.16 ff.; 20:15 ff.; Josh 8:24 ff.; Josh 10.28 ff; Jud 3:29; I Sam 27:9; I Sam 15:13 ff; I Sam. 10:6 ff.; etc.). King Asa was reported to exclude any exemption from military service(IK 15:22)- the only biblical reference to the deuteronomic legislation. Mighty warriors were glorified at some length(I Chron 11:22 ff.) and detailed accounts of the army were given(I Chron 12:24 ff; II Chron. 1:14 ff.). Warfare was taken for granted without comment(II Chron 13:2 ff.; 14:7; 17:12 ff). Slaughter, taking of captives, and ransacking was simply recorded without comment(II Chron 28:6 ff). God was seen as a fighter(Ex 15:3 ff), in Isaiah with its fierce imagery(Is 42:13 ff.;) and later(II Chron. 32:21). The historical records of the Books of Chronicles , present a theology which lauds warfare.
Military service was taken for granted and the horrors of war were described as a necessity of what we would euphemistically call “nation building.” The ideal of a peaceful world was presented by the prophets as a distant dream of the Messianic Age(Jer 65:25; Micah 4:3; Is. 2:4); though they spoke out against all violence(Is. 60.18; Jer. 23.3; Ezek. 45.9). We should remember that prophets close to various kings, usually supported the war about to be fought(1K 22.6 ff, etc.) though not always as we hear from the prophet Jehu (I K 16.7). The biblical tradition did not preserve their messages. As the later rabbinic traditions rejected warfare in order to avoid the total destruction of the Jewish people, they suppressed the Books of Maccabees and kept them out of the canon. The popular holiday of Hannukah instead placed its emphasis on an insignificant miracle rather than political victory.