By Karin Anderson (mysteriesofold.com)
Column 1: War Against the Nations
“For the Instructor, the Rule of the War.
The first attack of the Sons of Light shall be undertaken against the forces of the Sons of Darkness, the army of Belial:
the troops of Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Amalekites, Philistia, and the troops of the Kittim of Asshur…”
(1QM Col. 1:1–3)
Comparison with Prophetic Scriptures
The War Scroll draws heavily from earlier prophetic judgments. Below is a comparative chart:
| Nation/People | Isaiah 11:14 | Psalm 83 | Ezekiel 25 | Obadiah 1 | 1QM War Scroll |
| Edom | They shall lay their hand upon Edom | Tents of Edom | Stretch out My hand upon Edom | Rise up against her in battle; Mount of Esau | Troops of Edom |
| Moab | They shall lay their hand upon Moab | Moab | Open the flank of Moab | Troops of Moab | |
| Ammon | Children of Ammon shall obey them | Ammon | Make Rabbah a pasture for camels | Sons of Ammon | |
| Philistia | Fly on the shoulders of Philistines | Philistia | Cut off the Cherethites | Possess the Philistines | Philistia |
| Amalek | Amalek | Amalekites | |||
| Kittim/Asshur | Kittim of Asshur |
Column 2: Unity and Preparation for Battle
“The sons of Levi, the sons of Judah, and the sons of Benjamin, those exiled to the wilderness, shall fight against them in all their bands…
They shall blow the trumpets of battle and the trumpets of remembrance, and the mighty men shall advance…”
(1QM Col. 2)
Comparison with Prophetic Scriptures
This column mirrors prophetic themes of unity, exile, remembrance, and return:
| Theme | Isaiah 11:13 | Psalm 83 | Ezekiel 25 | Obadiah 1 |
| Tribal Unity | Ephraim shall not envy Judah | Benjamin shall possess Gilead | ||
| Enemy Conspiracy | Cut them off from being a nation | |||
| Desecration & Exile | Mocked My sanctuary; Judah in captivity | |||
| Return and Possession | Possess Mount Esau, Philistines, Ephraim, cities of the south |
