Biblical Update - Hebrews

NEIL Thomas's list for a Hebrew army in Ancient & Medieval Wargaming is really three lists, covering the same centuries as the Early Hebrew and Later Hebrew lists in De Bellis Antiquitatis.

(Thomas uses the word Israelite, rather than Hebrew, but this can lead to confusion after the Jewish kingdom splits into a northern part, Israel, and a southern one, Judah).

The main list, which covers Hebrew armies up until the accession of David's son Solomon to the united throne, is as follows.

SIMEONITES & EPHRAIMITES Auxiliary infantry, light protection, elite 1-2 units

GADITES & ISSACHARITES* Open-order javelinmen, light protection, average 1-2 units

BENJAMINITES Open-order slingers, light protection, average 1-2 units

OTHER SEVEN TRIBES Auxiliary infantry, light protection, average 2-4 units

One of the units of Benjaminites can be equipped with bows, rather than slings.

The army enjoys a special Guerrilla Warfare rule, designed to reflect its skill at ambushing enemies after luring them into suitable terrain.

Accordingly the Hebrew commander can add two pieces of rocky terrain anywhere on the battlefield (size of the terrain pieces is not stated, but a diagram of suggested deployment for the army shows two units in each of the pieces of rocky ground).

The Hebrew commander can also deploy two open-order units anywhere on the battlefield after the enemy has finished setting up. Again, the mechanics of this are not explained.

The second list is specifically for Solomon's army, which cannot use the Guerrilla Warfare rule, but gets an additional troop category:

CHARIOTS bow-armed light chariots, elite 1-3 units

With this addition I think it only fair that the Simeonites and Ephraimites lose their elite status, becoming average.

The third list is for armies after Solomon, ie for the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and ignores all the above.

Instead Thomas says to to use the list for Canaanite and Philistine armies, and I will look at this later. 

*"Issacher" in A&MW, but clearly Issacharites is meant.

Hebrew army at the Battle of Palm Hill

Left-to-right in the photo are Issacharite javelinmen; Benjaminite slingers and Ephraimite auxiliary infantry in rocky ground; two ordinary bands of auxiliary infantry in the centre rear; more Benjaminite slingers and Simeonite auxiliary infantry in the second patch of rocky ground; Gadite javelinmen.