Lord Of Sabaoth
Lord Of Sabaoth [1]
Hebrew tsebaot (not Sabbath, an altogether different word) , i.e. "of hosts", namely, of the heavenly powers ( 1 Kings 22:19; Psalms 103:21; Psalms 148:2; Romans 9:29; James 5:4, reminding the rich who think the poor have no advocate that the Lord of the whole hosts in heaven is their patron) . Implying the boundless resources at His command for His people's good ( Psalms 59:5). The sabaoth included both the angelic and starry hosts. The latter were objects of the idolatry, hence called sabaism ( 2 Kings 17:16). God is above even them ( 1 Chronicles 16:26). The "groves" symbolized these starry hosts. In contrast, Jehovah is the Lord of them, therefore alone to be worshipped. The title does not occur in the Pentateuch, nor earlier than 1 Samuel 1:3, but in the singular Joshua 5:14-15.
