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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMcClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Weapon
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(usually ëְּìַé , ὅðëïí , which denote an instrument of any kind). Among the Hebrews we find, in general, the same kinds of military weapons mentioned (1Sa_17:5 sq.; 2Ch_26:14; Neh_4:13; Neh_4:16; Eze_39:9; comp. Philo, Opp. 2, 530) as among other warlike nations of antiquity (see Herod, 7:61 sq.). We can therefore determine little about their precise form or material, except so far as monuments or modern usage enables us to draw, a comparison. We note the following kinds (comp. 2Co_6:7, ὅðëá; äåîéὰ êáὶ ἀñéóôåñÜ , Diod. Sic. 3, 51; óêåðáóôçñéá , ἀìõíôήñéá , Lat. arman et tela; see Bremi on Nepos, 14:11): —
I. Protective Weapons. — To this class belong the following:
1. The Shield (q.v.).
2. The Helmet ( ëּåֹáִò or ÷åֹáִò , 2Ch_26:14; Jer_46:4; ἡ ðåñéêåöáëáßá , Eph_6:17) of brass (1Sa_17:5; 1Sa_17:38; 1Ma_6:35; comp. Diod. Sic. 5, 30; Xenoph. Anab. 1, 2, 16). Whether the Israelites also wore them of leather (neats hide, Homer, 11, 10:257 sq.; Strabo, 7:306, etc.; see Passow, s.v. êõíÝç ) is uncertain, although such certainly belonged to rude ages (for the ancient Egyptian form, see Wilkinson, 1, 331). SEE HELMET.
3. The Breastplate ( ùַׁøְéåֹï , èώñáî ), which covered the center of the person (1Sa_17:5; Neh_4:16; 2Ch_26:14; 1 Maccabees 3, 3), usually of brass (1Sa_17:5; Rev_9:9; comp. Iliad, 13:371 sq., 397 sq.), and sometimes composed of plates ( ÷ִùְׂ÷ִùַּׂéí , 1Sa_17:5), by which, however, we must not understand the Roman lorica squameata, consisting of a leather corselet covered with brass scales. In order to would a fully equipped soldier, it was necessary to strike some spot where the brazen pieces failed to join each other fully, or where ordinary clothing intervened (1Ki_20:34). Among the Syro- Seleucid generals we find chain armor (panoply) in use (1Ma_6:35; comp. the Sept. at 1Sa_17:5; Diod. Sic. 5, 30); but of linen corselets (see Kopke, Kriegsw. d. Griech. p. 97 sq.) there appears no trace in the Bible. SEE BREASTPLATE.
4. Greaves for protecting the knees and legs ( îַöְçָä , êíçìῖäåò , ocreae; 1Sa_17:6), commonly of brass (Iliad, 7:42), were universal in classical antiquity (Xenoph. Anab. 1, 2, 16; 4:7; 16; Virgil, En. 11:177; Pliny, 34:18, etc.), and are regarded as an invention of the Carians (Pliny, 7:57). We must distinguish from these the military shoe ( ñְàåֹï , Isa_9:4), probably like the Roman caliga (see Bynaeus, De Calaeis Hebr. p. 83 sq.), a sort of half-boot of leather shod with strong nails (Juvenal, 16:24; Josephus, War, 6:1, 8; clavi caligeres, Pliny, 9:33; 22:46; 34:41). SEE GREAVES; SEE SHOE.
II. Aggressive Weapons. —
1. The Sword ( çֶøֶá ), which was carried in a special belt at the hips (1Sa_17:37; 1Sa_25:13; 2Sa_20:8), but certainly not (as Jahn [Archceöl. II, 2, 40] falsely argues from Jdg_3:16; Jdg_3:21; Josephus, War, 3, 5, 5) on the right side (see the figures of Ninevites in the Journal Asiatique, 1840, 7 pl. 3, 6, 7, 10; 10:17, 19, 22, 53, etc.). It was enclosed in a sheath ( úִּòִø , 1Sa_17:51; 2 Samuel loc. cit.; ðָãָï , 1Ch_21:27; èήêç , Joh_18:11), hence the phrase “to draw the sword” ( äֵøַé÷ çֶøֶá , or ùָׁìִ , or ôָּúִç ), and was double-edged ( ôַéּåú
ùְׂðֵé , Jdg_3:16; Pro_5:4; äßóôïìïò , Heb_4:12; Revelation 1:61; 2:12; ἀìöήêçò , Iliad, 21:118). It was used both for striking and stabbing (1Sa_31:4; 2 Samuel 2, 16; 2Sa_20:10, etc.). The Sept. usually translates the Heb. çֶøֶá by ìÜ÷áéñá , which latter occurs in the New Test., and originally denoted the short dagger (comp. Iliad, 3, 271 sq.), but later any (curved) saber in distinction from. îßöïò , the proper (military) sword; but that çֶøֶá also signifies the straight sword there can be no doubt. The Roman sica, a somewhat curved poniard, was introduced later among the Jews, and became, shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem, the deadly weapon of the bold robbers, who hence were called Sicarii (Josephuas, Ant. 20:8, 10; War, 7:10, 1; Life, § 56). SEE SWORD.
2. The Spear, lance, or dart, was used as a weapon both for thrusting (close at hand) and for throwing (at a short distance), like the äüñõ of the Greeks (Strabo, 10:448); but chiefly for the former (see 1Sa_18:1; 1Sa_19:10; 1Sa_20:33). The usual Heb. designations are øֹîִç and çֲðַéú , which can hardly be distinguished, except that the latter is generally used in connection with the sword (or bow), while both appear in connection with the shield (Jdg_5:8; 1Sa_17:15). Instead of either word, we sometimes find ÷ִéַå (2Sa_21:16) and ëַּéãåֹï (Jos_8:18; Jos_8:26; 1Sa_17:6; Job_41:21); also ùֶׁáֶè in some cases (2Sa_18:14, according to some). They are also thought to have been used as standards for colors (Gesen. Thesaur. p. 683). The spears (see the Persepolitan specimens in Porter, Travels, 1, pl. 36, 40, 46, 49) had a wooden shaft ( çֵåֹ , 1Sa_17:7; or òֵåֹ , 2Sa_21:19; 2Sa_23:7) and an iron point (1Sa_17:7). Ash or fir was preferred (Virgil, En. 11:667; Homer, II. 19:390 sq.; 22:293; Odys. 14:281; Ovid, Ietam. 10. 93; Statius, Theb. 6:102; comp. Pliny. 16:24), and hence many (so Rosenmüller) explain Nah_2:4; but áּøåֹùׁ . is probably cypress (q.v.). The hasta of the Romans, a weapon for throwing, is called ëüã÷ç in the New Test. (John.19, 34; comp. 2 Maccabees 5, 2; 2Ma_15:11; see Alstorph. De Hastis Veter. [Amst. 1757]). SEE SPEAR.
3. The Bow .(q.v.) in connection with Arrows (q.v.).
4. The Sling (q.v.).
5. A Battle-axe (see Wilkinson, 1, 323, 325 sq.) is named ( ñַâåֹø , Psa_35:3; comp. the óÜãáñéò of the Scythians, Massageta, and Persians, Herod. 1, 215; 4:70; 7:64; Xenoph. Cyrop. 1, 2, 9; 2, 1, 9; Strabo, 15:734; the Armenian sacr) as a special weapon of attack (comp. the ÷ִøְãְּîּåֹú of the Chaldaeans, Jer_46:2). A sledge-hammer may perhaps be meant in one passage ( îֵôַéåֹ , Pro_25:18; Sept. ῥüðáëïí ; comp. Odys. 11:575); but it is probably only the ordinary mallet ( îִôֵּåֹ ). See generally Bosvelt [Rau] De Armis Vett, Hebr. (Tr. ad Rh. 1781); Jahn, Archaöl. II, 2, 400 sq.; Seume, Armna Vett. cum Nostris Comniparata (Lips. 1792) SEE ARMOR.
Of the custom of many nations of burying arms with a warrior in the grave, there is no trace in the Bible (see Eze_22:27; 1Ma_13:29; comp. Tacitus, Gerz. 27; Rosenmüller, Morgenl. 4, 343 sq.). Captured weapons were suspended in temples or burned in heaps (Isa_9:4 sq.; Eze_39:9; comp. Virgil. in. 8:562 sq.). Arsenals ( áָּúֵּé ëֵìַéí , 2Ki_20:13; Isa_39:2; ὁðëïèήêç , Josephus, War, 2, 17, 9) were erected in cities for the deposit of weapons. SEE ARMORY.