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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMcClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Harness
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occurs in several senses in the Eng. Vers. as the rendering of different Heb. words.
1. àָñָø (asar', prop. to bind, as it is generally rendered) is sometimes applied to the act of fastening animals to a cart or vehicle, e.g. yoking kine (1Sa_6:7; 1Sa_6:10, “tie”) or horses (Jer_46:4, “harness”), gearing a chariot (Gen_46:29; Exo_14:6; 2Ki_9:21, “make ready”), or absolutely (1Ki_18:44; 2Ki_9:21, ‘prepare”). From the monuments we see that the harness of the Egyptian war-chariots was composed of leather, and the trappings were richly decorated, being stained with a great variety of colors, and studded with gold and silver. SEE CHARIOT.
2. In the old English sense for armor ( ðֵùֶׁ÷ or ðֶùֶׁ÷ ne'shek, warlike accoutrements, elsewhere “armor,”“weapons,”etc.), 2Ch_9:24. SEE ARMOR.
3. In a like sense for ùַׁøְéָï (shiryan', 1Ki_22:34; 2Ch_18:33), a coat of mail (“breastplate,” Isa_59:17). SEE ARMOR.
4. “Harnessed”( çֲîֻùַׁéí , chamushim', from çָîִùׁ in the sense of being fierce for battle) is the expression used to represent the equipped condition of the Israelites as they passed out of Egypt (Exo_13:18, “armed,” Jos_1:14; Jos_4:1-2 Jdg_7:11), and seems to denote their orderly and intrepid disposal as if to meet a foe (the ancient versions interpret generally full-armed). (See Gesenius, Lex. s.v.)