Weapon
Weapon
(usually , , 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, , Diod. Sic. 3, 51; , , 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 ( or , 2Ch 26:14; Jer 46:4; , 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. ) is uncertain, although such certainly belonged to rude ages (for the ancient Egyptian form, see Wilkinson, 1, 331). SEE HELMET.
3. The Breastplate (, ), 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 (, 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 (, , 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 (, 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 (), which was carried in a special belt at the hips (1Sa 17:37; 1Sa 25:13; 2Sa 20:8), but certainly not (as Jahn [Archcel. 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 (, 1Sa 17:51; 2 Samuel loc. cit.; , 1Ch 21:27; , Joh 18:11), hence the phrase to draw the sword ( , or , or ), and was double-edged (
, Jdg 3:16; Pro 5:4; , Heb 4:12; Revelation 1:61; 2:12; , 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. by , 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. , the proper (military) sword; but that 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 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 and , 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 (2Sa 21:16) and (Jos 8:18; Jos 8:26; 1Sa 17:6; Job 41:21); also 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 (, 1Sa 17:7; or , 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 Rosenmller) explain Nah 2:4; but . is probably cypress (q.v.). The hasta of the Romans, a weapon for throwing, is called 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 (, Psa 35:3; comp. the 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 of the Chaldaeans, Jer 46:2). A sledge-hammer may perhaps be meant in one passage (, Pro 25:18; Sept. ; comp. Odys. 11:575); but it is probably only the ordinary mallet (). See generally Bosvelt [Rau] De Armis Vett, Hebr. (Tr. ad Rh. 1781); Jahn, Archal. 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; Rosenmller, 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 ( , 2Ki 20:13; Isa 39:2; , Josephus, War, 2, 17, 9) were erected in cities for the deposit of weapons. SEE ARMORY.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Weapon
Isa 13:5 (a) GOD describes His anger and His power as being weapons of destruction against His enemies. Sometimes it is pestilence, and sometimes famine. It might be disease, or the invading army. It might be the plague of locusts, frogs or flies. GOD knows how best to punish those who oppose Him. (See Jer 50:25).
Jer 51:20 (a) This type is used to describe the nation of Babylon which GOD used as an instrument for destroying other nations that were rebellious against Him, including Israel.
2Co 10:4 (b) This is descriptive of the gifts and graces of the Spirit; the spiritual armour, the spiritual sword, the Word of GOD, prayer, zeal, wisdom, godliness, earnestness, knowledge of the Word of GOD, all of these are used by the believer to defeat the enemies of our souls.