EXOD189 ... when the Jewish people left Egypt, [the Torah] says that the Jews left "Chamushim." The word has many explanations, but one translation is that they left armed with weapons. In fact this is the explanation of the Ibn Ezra, the Rashbam, and Rabbeinu Bechaye. The Jews knew they would be fighting battles in the desert and to conquer the land of Israel, and therefore needed weapons for these wars. Based on these explanations, weapons were a "necessary evil" for the Jewish people, and were needed to accomplish the national task to defeat the enemy (on the occasions when God did not do so by Himself, miraculously, as by the Red Sea, the Sea of Reeds). Though the Jews relied on God as well, they also had to fight other nations by natural means, using the weapons of the day, says Rabbeinu Bechaye. In fact, King David attributes to God not only his successes in wars, but also considers God his teacher to become an expert in using weapons for his many battles.(Samuel II:22:35). Thus, Judaism clearly recognizes the need of weapons on the battlefield as a necessary part of life. (continued at [[EXOD503]] Exodus 20:21-22 AMJV 121)