AW List #16, "Late Hebrews," classifies the Gibborim as LAI Vet(T).The LAI designation would seem to be a direct transference from the WRG Army Lists which classify the Gibborim as LMI Reg B. I prefer, however, the classification given in The Book of Hosts: Chariot Warfare Army Lists for 3000-343 B.C. (1991), which puts them at "Hi or LHI, Reg B." Substantiation is provided in C. Herzog & M. Gichon, Battles of the Bible, London: Greenhill Books, 1997. First, the Davidic and subsequent Hebrew army organization was divided into two general commands, i.e., the national levy and the regulars. The regulars "had two corps, the gibborim ('mighty men' of the King James Bible) and the foreign mercenaries. The gibborim comprised two regiments that were built around the nuclei of the first and second 'Thirty'." The first corps originated in the loyal band of Judean tribesmen who formed around David in his period of exile from Saul's court. The second corps evolved out of a rroop that was originally recruited from among the Trans-Jordanian peoples after David attained the crown of Judah. This latter would seem to have included Moabites, Aramaeans, Hittites, and other opportunists who inhabited the crossroads of trade between the Mesopotamian and Nile Valley cultures. (See pp. 111-112.) We know that all Hebrew troops, including the tribal levies, could maneuver well in either loose or skirmish order, but Herzog & Gichon go even further and claim that the Judeans could form the "closely arrayed heavy phalanx." This would support The Book of Hosts' classification of the Gibborim as "LHI." Circumstantial evidence for easy Hebrew access to iron weapons and armour is provided in S. Kurinski, The Glassmakers: An Oddysey of the Jews, New York: Hippocrene Books, 1991. This seminal work stands Biblical archeology on its head by proving, through both archeological and textual evidence, that the Hebrews (and not the Philistines) controlled the pyrotechnology of iron production and iron products manufacturing. A masterpiece of technological history, Kurinski's book has caused scholars of the ancient world to re-examine a wide range of assumptions in the face of this array of new evidence and interpretation. On the whole, I think the AW list would be justified in changing the Gibborim's classification from LAI to HI. These were tough, experienced and disciplined troops - from whom even the King's personal guards were chosen. The AW list for the Late Hebrews also provides a unit as "Mercenary HI Ave Sp/Sh." This has to refer to the second corps of Hebrew regulars, i.e., the Philistine mercenaries. These consisted of an array of Pelethites, Cheretites and Gittites who originally joined David when he was exiled among the Philistines. Herzog & Gichon make it clear that this corps consisted of heavy infantry that was very loyal to the Davidic throne, experienced, well trained & armoured. I would prefer to classify them as Vet(T), the same as the Gibborim, but in any case no less that Warriors(T). Tweaking the Late Hebrews Army List Back to Saga #73 Table of Contents Back to Saga List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by Terry Gore This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com