Arms

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

The Hebrews do not appear to have had any peculiar military habit. As the flowing dress which they ordinarily wore would have impeded their movements, they girt it closely around them when preparing for battle, and loosened it on their return,  2 Samuel 20:8;  1 Kings 20:11 . They used the same arms as the neighbouring nations, both defensive and offensive; and these were made either of iron or of brass, principally of the latter metal. Of the defensive arms of the Hebrews, the following were the most remarkable; namely,

1. The helmet, כובע , for covering and defending the head. This was a part of the military provision made by Uzziah for his vast army,  2 Chronicles 26:14; and long before the time of that king, the helmets of Saul and of the Philistine champion were of the same metal,  1 Samuel 17:38 .

This military cap was also worn by the Persians, Ethiopians, and Libyans,  Ezekiel 38:5 , and by the troops which Antiochus sent against Judas Maccabaeus, 1Ma_6:35 .

2. The breastplate or corslet, שריון , was another piece of defensive armour. Goliath, and the soldiers of Antiochus,  1 Samuel 17:5; 1Ma_6:35 , were accoutred with this defence; which, in our authorized translation, is variously rendered habergeon, coat of mail, and brigandine,   1 Samuel 17:38;  2 Chronicles 26:14;  Isaiah 59:17;  Jeremiah 46:4 . Between the joints of this harness, as it is termed in   1 Kings 22:4 , the profligate Ahab was mortally wounded by an arrow, shot at a venture. From these various renderings of the original word, it should seem that this piece of armour covered both the back and breast, but principally the latter. The corslets were made of various materials: sometimes they were made of flax or cotton, woven very thick, or of a kind of woollen felt: others again were made of iron or brazen scales, or laminae, laid one over another, like the scales of a fish; others were properly what we call coats of mail; and others were composed of two pieces of iron or brass, which protected the back and breast. All these kinds of corslets are mentioned in the Scriptures. Goliath's coat of mail,  1 Samuel 17:5 , was literally a corslet of scales, that is, composed of numerous laminae of brass, crossing each other. It was called by Virgil, and other Latin writers, squama lorica. Similar corslets were worn by the Persians and other nations. The breastplate worn by the unhappy Saul, when he perished in battle, is supposed to have been of flax, or cotton, woven very close and thick,   2 Samuel 1:9 , marginal rendering.

3. The shield defended the whole body during the battle. It was of various forms, and made of wood covered with tough hides, or of brass, and sometimes was overlaid with gold,   1 Kings 10:16-17;  1 Kings 14:26-27 . Two sorts are mentioned in the Scriptures; namely, the נה , great shield or buckler, and the מגן , or smaller shield. It was much used by the Jews, Babylonians, Chaldeans, Assyrians, and Egyptians. David, who was a great warrior, often mentions a shield and buckler in his divine poems, to signify that defence and protection of Heaven which he expected and experienced, and in which he reposed all his trust,   Psalms 5:12; and when he says, "God will with favour compass the righteous as with a shield," he seem, to allude to the use of the great shield tsinnah, (which is the word he uses,) with which they covered and defended their whole bodies. King Solomon caused two different sorts of shields to be made; namely, the tsinnah, (which answers to clypeus among the Latins,) such a large shield as the infantry wore, and the maginnim, or scuta, which were used by the horsemen, and were of a much less size,   2 Chronicles 9:15-16 . The former of these are translated targets, and are double in weight to the other. The Philistines came into the field with this weapon: so we find their formidable champion was appointed,   1 Samuel 17:7 . One bearing a shield went before him, whose proper duty it was to carry this and some other weapons, with which to furnish his master upon occasion.

The loss of the shield in fight was excessively resented by the Jewish warriors, as well as lamented by them; for it was a signal aggravation of the public mourning, that "the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away,"  2 Samuel 1:21 . David, a man of arms, who composed this beautiful elegy on the death of Saul, felt how disgraceful a thing it was for soldiers to quit their shields in the field.

These honourable sentiments were not confined to the Jews. We find them prevailing among most other ancient nations, who considered it infamous to cast away or lose their shield. With the Greeks it was a capital crime, and punished with death. The Lacedemonian women, it is well known, in order to excite the courage of their sons, used to deliver to them their fathers' shields, with this short address: "This shield thy father always preserved: do thou preserve it also, or perish." Alluding perhaps to these sentiments, St. Paul, when exhorting the Hebrew Christians to steadfastness in the faith of the Gospel, urges them not to cast away their confidence, which "hath great recompense of reward,"  Hebrews 10:35 .

4. Another defensive provision in war was the military girdle, which was for a double purpose: first, in order to hold the sword, which hung, as it does this day, at the soldier's girdle or belt,   1 Samuel 17:39 : secondly, it was necessary to gird the clothes and the armour together. To gird and to arm are synonymous words in Scripture; for those who are said to be able to put on armour are, according to the Hebrew and the Septuagint, girt with a girdle; and hence comes the expression of "girding to the battle,"   1 Kings 20:11;  Isaiah 8:9;  2 Samuel 22:40;  1 Samuel 18:4 . There is express mention of this military girdle, where it is recorded that Jonathan, to assure David of his entire love and friendship by some visible pledges, stripped himself not only of his usual garments, but of his military habiliments, his sword, bow, and girdle, and gave them to David.

5. Boots or greaves were part of the ancient defensive harness, because it was the custom to cast certain εμποδια , impediments, (so called, because they entangled the feet,) in the way before the enemy. The military boot or shoe was therefore necessary to guard the legs and feet from the iron stakes placed in the way to gall and wound them; and thus we are enabled to account for Goliath's greaves of brass which were upon his legs.

The offensive weapons were of two sorts; namely, such as were employed when they came to a close engagement, and those with which they annoyed the enemy at a distance. Of the former description were the sword and the battle-axe.

1. The sword is the most ancient weapon of offence mentioned in the Bible. With it Jacob's sons treacherously assassinated the Shechemites,   Genesis 34:2 . It was worn on the thigh,  Psalms 45:4;  Exodus 32:27; and, it should seem, on the left thigh; for it is particularly mentioned that Ehud put a dagger or short sword under his garments on his right thigh,  Judges 3:16 . There appear to have been two kinds of swords in use, a larger one with one edge, which is called in Hebrew the mouth of the sword,   Joshua 6:21; and a shorter one with two edges, like that of Ehud. The modern Arabs, it is well known, wear a sabre on one side, and a cangiar or dagger in their girdles.

2. Of the battle-axe we have no description in the sacred volume: it seems to have been a most powerful weapon in the hands of cavalry, from the allusion made to it by Jeremiah: "Thou art my battle-axe and weapons of war; for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms: and with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider, and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider,"

 Jeremiah 51:20-21 .

3. The spear and javelin (as the words רמח and הנית are variously rendered in  Numbers 25:7;  1 Samuel 13:19 , and  Jeremiah 46:4 ) were of different kinds, according to their length or make. Some of them might be thrown or darted,  1 Samuel 18:11; others were a kind of long swords,  Numbers 25:8; and it appears from  2 Samuel 2:23 , that some of them were pointed at both ends. When armies were encamped, the spear of the general or commander-in-chief was stuck into the ground at his head.

4. Slings are enumerated among the military stores collected by Uzziah,   2 Chronicles 26:14 . In the use of the sling David eminently excelled, and he slew Goliath with a stone from one. The Benjaminites were celebrated in battle because they had attained to great skill and accuracy in handling this weapon; "they could sling stones to a hair's breadth, and not miss,"  Judges 20:16; and where it is said that they were left-handed, it should rather be rendered ambidexters; for we are told they could use "both the right hand and the left,"   1 Chronicles 12:2; that is, they did not constantly use the right hand as others did, when they shot arrows or slung stones; but they were so expert in their military exercises, that they could perform them with their left hand as well as with their right.

5. Bows and arrows are of great antiquity; indeed, no weapon is mentioned so early. Thus Isaac said to Esau, "Take thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow,"   Genesis 27:3; though, it is true, these are not spoken of as used in war, but in hunting; and so they are supposed and implied before this, where it is said of Ishmael that he became an archer, he used bows and arrows in shooting of wild beasts,  Genesis 21:20 . This afterward became so useful a weapon, that care was taken to train up the Hebrew youth to it betimes. When David had, in a solemn manner, lamented the death of King Saul, he gave orders for teaching the young men the use of the bow,  1 Samuel 1:18 , that they might be as expert as the Philistines, by whose bows and arrows Saul and his army were slain. These were part of the military ammunition; for in those times bows were used instead of guns, and arrows supplied the place of powder and ball. From the book of  Job 20:24 , it may be collected, that the military bow was made of steel, and consequently was very stiff and hard to bend, on which account they used their foot in bending their bows; and therefore when the prophets speak of treading the bow and of bows trodden, they are to be understood of bows bent, as our translators rightly render it,   Jeremiah 50:14;  Isaiah 5:28;  Isaiah 21:15; but the Hebrew word which is used in these places, signifies to tread upon. This weapon was thought so necessary in war, that it is there called, "the bow of war," or the "battle-bow,"   Zechariah 9:10; Zechariah 10:14.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Neither remains of Hebrew Arms, nor representations of them in Scripture, or on vases, bronzes, mosaics, paintings, coins, or jewels, have been preserved to us. Of offensive armor there was the Sword (chereb ), first mentioned  Genesis 3:24. Lighter and shorter than our modern sword ( 2 Samuel 2:16;  2 Samuel 20:8-10;  1 Samuel 17:51;  1 Samuel 21:9-10). It was carried in a sheath, slung by a girdle, resting upon the thigh ( Psalms 45:3;  2 Samuel 20:8). In peace even a king wore no sword ( 1 Kings 3:24). So that "gird on the sword" was a phrase for begin war ( Psalms 45:3). "Devour with the sword" ( Isaiah 1:20), "smite with the edge (mouth) of the sword," are familiar personifications. Some swords were "two edged" ( Psalms 149:6), type of the Word ( Hebrews 4:12;  Revelation 1:16). Traces of the primitive use of flint for swords or knives appear in  Exodus 4:25;  Joshua 5:2.

The Spear (chanith ), Saul's regular companion (appropriate to his own stately height), at his head when sleeping, in his hand when gathering his soldiers, his leaning staff when dying ( 1 Samuel 26:7;  1 Samuel 22:6;  2 Samuel 1:6). It was this ponderous (compare  2 Samuel 2:23) weapon, not the lighter "javelin" (as KJV) which he hurled at David twice, and at Jonathan ( 1 Samuel 18:11;  1 Samuel 19:10;  1 Samuel 20:33). The Javelin (kidon ) was lighter, appropriate to maneuvering, easy to hold outstretched ( Joshua 8:14-27); carried on the back between the shoulders. In  1 Samuel 17:6 translate, not "target," but "a JAVELIN of brass," distinguished from "the spear" (chanith ),  1 Samuel 17:7; so  1 Samuel 17:45, "with a javelin," not "a shield";  Job 39:23, "the glittering spear and the JAVELIN."

The Lance (romach ), translated KJV "spear," "javelin," "lancet" ( 1 Kings 18:28). The DART (shelach ) ( 2 Chronicles 32:5). The BATON, or Sceptre (shebet ) used in  2 Samuel 18:14 of the "darts" with which Joab killed Absalom. The BOW (quesheth ). Captains of high rank did not disdain to seek expertness in it: as Jonathan ( 2 Samuel 1:22), Jehu ( 2 Kings 9:24). The tribe Benjamin was noted for archery ( 1 Chronicles 8:40;  1 Chronicles 12:2), where a bow for shooting stones forth is implied ( 2 Chronicles 14:8). The phrase for "bend the bow" is "tread" it, implying that it was bent with the foot. Some bows were made of brass or "steel" ( Psalms 18:34). In the beginning of Saul's reign the Philistines had reduced Israel so as that "no smith was found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrew make them swords or spears; so in the day of battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people but with Saul and with Jonathan" ( 1 Samuel 13:19-22). Curiously analogous to this is the stipulation mentioned in the league which the Etrurian Potsena conceded to the vanquished Romans (Pliny, 34:14), namely, "that they should not use iron save in agriculture."

The arrows (chitzim ) were carried in a quiver (theli );  Job 6:4 refers to poisoned arrows;  Psalms 120:4 to the practice of attaching burning material to some arrow heads. Divination by arrows was practiced by the Chaldees. Nebuchadnezzar, undecided whether to attack Jerusalem or Ammon first, wrote their names on distinct arrows; the arrow first drawn from the quiver decided his course ( Ezekiel 21:21-22). The Sling ( Judges 20:16), the usual weapon of a shepherd, as David, to ward off beasts from the flock. His weapon in slaying Goliath; hence gracefully alluded to by Abigail in her prayer for him ( 1 Samuel 25:29): "the souls of thine enemies ... shall God sling out, as out of the middle of a sling." Engines for "shooting great stones" prepared by king Uzziah ( 2 Chronicles 26:15).

Of defensive armor there was the COAT OF MAIL ( 1 Samuel 17:5), Hebrew "breast-plate (shirion ) of scales." In  1 Kings 22:34, translate as margin "between the joints and the breast. plate." KJV trans. shirion "habergeons" ( 2 Chronicles 26:14;  Nehemiah 4:16), i.e. hauberks, a quilted shirt or doublet put over the head. From its breast-plate-like outline Hermon is called Sirion, contracted into Sion ( Deuteronomy 3:9;  Deuteronomy 4:48). The Helmet from a root meaning "high and round." Greaves of brass, for the feet ( 1 Samuel 17:6). Two kinds of SHIELD: the tzinnah protecting the whole person ( Psalms 5:12), carried before the warrior when not in actual battle ( 1 Samuel 17:7;  1 Samuel 17:41); the Roman doorlike oblong shield, four feet long by two broad (thureon ), from thura , a door), is meant  Ephesians 6:16, "above all," i.e. over all, covering all the body, not the small round shield.

The mageen was smaller, a buckler for hand to band fight.  1 Kings 10:16-17; "six hundred shekels of gold went to one target" (tzinnah ), but" three pounds of gold went to one shield" (mageen ); the greater weight required for the tzinnah shows its larger size. The light mageen is that in  2 Chronicles 12:9-10. The shelet ("buckler," from shalat , to exercise authority), probably a small peculiarly shaped shield of gold, the badge of men high in authority. In  2 Samuel 8:7 "shields" of gold taken by David from Hadadezer king of Zobah, and dedicated in the temple, used in proclaiming, Joash king ( 2 Kings 11:10), compare  Song of Solomon 4:4). In the New Testament compare  Ephesians 6:14-17 for the Roman armor, except the spear. The breast-plate had a girdle beneath to brace up the person.

The Greek greaves protected the legs as well as the feet. The light armed troops (psiloi ), instead of shield and cuirass, wore a garment of leather, and fought with parts, bows, stones, and slings. The targeteers (peltastes) also were more lightly equipped than the heavy armed (hoplitoe). Three integuments are specified in Ephesians 6: the breast-plate, girdle, and shoes; two defenses, the helmet and shield; two offensive weapons, the sword and the spear (not the type, but its antitype, prayer, shot up as a javelin mightily; ejaculation is derived from jaculum, "a javelin".) There is no armor for the back, but only for the front we must never turn our back to the foe ( Luke 9:62), our only safety is ceaseless fighting ( Matthew 4:11;  James 4:7). The girdle kept the armor in its place and supported the sword; so the "truth" in Jesus appropriated secures the believer, and braces him for the good fight ( Ephesians 4:21; compare  Exodus 12:11;  Luke 12:35).

The Roman soldier wore military sandals (caligoe whence the emperor Caligula took his name); so Christians, "your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace"; the peace within beautifully contrasting with the raging war outside ( Isaiah 26:3). To be at peace with God and ourselves we must ever war with Satan. In Assyrian remains we see a coat of scale armor reaching down to the knees or ankles. The MAUL or mace is alluded to in  Psalms 2:9;  Proverbs 26:18;  Jeremiah 50:23;  Jeremiah 51:20;  Nahum 2:1; literally "that which scatters in pieces." So "Martel," a little HAMMER, was the surname of the king of the Franks.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Arms. The subject naturally divides itself into - I. Offensive weapons: Arms. II. Defensive weapons: Armor.

I. Offensive weapons. -

1. Apparently the earliest known and most widely used was the Chereb or Sword . Very little can be gathered as to its shape, size, material or mode of use. Perhaps if anything is to be inferred, it is that the Chereb is both a lighter and a shorter weapon than the modern sword. It was carried in a sheath,  1 Samuel 17:51;  2 Samuel 20:8;  1 Chronicles 21:27, slung by a girdle,  1 Samuel 25:13, and resting upon the thigh,  Psalms 45:3;  Judges 3:16, or upon the hips.  2 Samuel 20:8.

2. Next we have the Spear ; and of this weapon we meet with at least three distinct kinds.

a. The Chanith , a "spear," and that of the largest kind. It was the weapon of Goliath,  1 Samuel 17:7;  1 Samuel 17:45;  2 Samuel 21:19;  1 Chronicles 20:5, and also of other giants,  2 Samuel 23:21;  1 Chronicles 11:23, and mighty warriors.  2 Samuel 2:23;  2 Samuel 23:18;  1 Chronicles 11:11;  1 Chronicles 11:20.

b. Apparently lighter than the preceding was the Cidon or "javelin." When not in action, the Cidon was carried on the back of the warrior,  1 Samuel 17:6, Authorized Version "target."

c. Another kind of spear was the Romach . In the historical books, it occurs in  Numbers 25:7 and  1 Kings 18:28. And frequently in the later books, as in  1 Chronicles 12:8. ("buckler");  2 Chronicles 11:12. (It varied much in length, weight and size).

d. The Shelach was probably a lighter missile or "dart." See  2 Chronicles 23:10;  2 Chronicles 32:5. ("darts");  Nehemiah 4:17;  Nehemiah 4:23. (see margin);  Job 33:18;  Job 36:12;  Joel 2:8.

e. Shebet , a rod or staff, is used once only to denote a weapon.  2 Samuel 18:14.

3. Of missile weapons of offence, the chief was undoubtedly the Bow , Kesheth . The Arrows were carried in a quiver.  Genesis 27:3;  Isaiah 22:6;  Isaiah 49:2;  Psalms 127:5. From an allusion in  Job 6:4, they would seem to have been some times poisoned; and  Psalms 120:4 may point to a practice of using arrows with some burning material attached to them.

4. The Sling is first mentioned in  Judges 20:16. This simple weapon, with which David killed the giant Philistine, was the natural attendant of a shepherd. Later in the monarchy, slingers formed part of the regular army.  2 Kings 3:25.

5. The Battle Axe ,  Jeremiah 51:20, a powerful weapon of whose exact form we have no knowledge.

II. Armor. -

6. The Breastplate , enumerated in the description of the arms of Goliath, a "Coat of mail," literally a "breastplate of scales."  1 Samuel 17:5. This word has furnished one of the names of Mount Hermon. See .

7. The Habergeon is mentioned but twice - in reference to the gown of the high priest.  Exodus 28:32;  Exodus 39:28. It was probably a quilted shirt or doublet.

8. The Helmet is referred to in  1 Samuel 17:5;  2 Chronicles 26:14;  Ezekiel 27:10.

9. (Greaves ) or defences for the feet, made of brass, are named in  1 Samuel 17:6 only.

10. Two kinds of Shield 's are distinguishable.

a. The large shield; encompassing,  Psalms 6:12, the whole person. When not in actual conflict, it was carried before the warrior.  1 Samuel 17:7;  1 Samuel 17:41.

b. Of smaller dimensions was the buckler or target, probably for use in hand-to-hand fight.  1 Kings 10:16;  2 Chronicles 9:15-16.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Arms, Armor . There were: I. Offensive Weapons: arms. II. Defensive Weapons: armor. I. Offensive weapons. 1. Apparently the earliest and most widely used was the Chereb or sword, a lighter and a shorter weapon than the modern sword. It was carried in a sheath,  1 Samuel 17:51;  2 Samuel 20:8;  1 Chronicles 21:27, slung by a girdle,  1 Samuel 25:13, and resting upon the thigh,  Psalms 45:3;  Judges 3:16, or upon the hips,  2 Samuel 20:8. 2. The spear; at least three distinct kinds. (A ) The Chanith, a "spear" of the largest kind. It was the weapon of Goliath,  1 Samuel 17:7;  1 Samuel 17:45;  2 Samuel 21:19;  1 Chronicles 20:5, and also of other giants,  2 Samuel 23:21;  1 Chronicles 11:23, and mighty warriors,  2 Samuel 2:23;  2 Samuel 23:18;  1 Chronicles 11:11;  1 Chronicles 11:20. (B ) Apparently lighter than the preceding was the Cîdôn or "javelin." When not in action the Cîdôn was carried on the back of the warrior,  1 Samuel 17:6, A. V. "target," (C ) Another kind of spear was the Rômach, mentioned in  Numbers 25:7 and  1 Kings 18:28, and frequently in the later books, as in  1 Chronicles 12:8 ("buckler");  2 Chronicles 11:12. It varied much in length, weight and size, (D) The Shelach, probably a fighter missile or "dart." See  2 Chronicles 23:10;  2 Chronicles 32:5 ("darts"); some suppose darts are meant by the reading in the margin of A. V. of  Nehemiah 4:17;  Nehemiah 4:23; but the R. V. reads "weapon" in both cases, which makes it uncertain what kind of armor is meant.  Job 33:18;  Job 36:12;  Joel 2:8. (e) Sheba, means a rod or staff, used once only to denote a weapon.  2 Samuel 18:14. 3. Of missile weapons of offence the chief was undoubtedly the Bow (Hebrew, Kesheth ). The Arrows were carried in a quiver.  Genesis 27:3;  Isaiah 22:6;  Isaiah 49:2;  Psalms 127:5. From an allusion in  Job 6:4 they would seem to have been sometimes poisoned; and  Psalms 120:4 may point to a practice of using arrows with some burning material attached to them. 4. The Sling is mentioned in  Judges 20:16. This simple weapon, with which David killed the giant Philistine, was the natural attendant of a shepherd. Later in the monarchy, slingers formed part of the regular army.  2 Kings 3:1-27;  2 Kings 25:5. The Battle-Axe,  Jeremiah 51:20, was a powerful weapon; its exact form is unknown. II. Armor. 1. The Breastplate noticed in the arms of Goliath, a "Coat of mail," literally a "Breastplate of scales."  1 Samuel 17:5. 2. The Habergeon is mentioned twice—in reference to the gown of the high priest. Translated coat of mail in R.V.  Exodus 28:32;  Exodus 39:23. It was probably a quilted shirt or doublet. 3. The Helmet was a protection for the head.  1 Samuel 17:5;  2 Chronicles 26:14;  Ezekiel 27:10. 4. Greaves were coverings for the feet, made of brass, named in  1 Samuel 17:6 only. 5. Two kinds of Shield are distinguishable, (A ) The large shield, encompassing the whole person.  Psalms 5:12. It was carried before the warrior.  1 Samuel 17:7. (B ) Of smaller size was the Buckler or Target, probably for use in hand-to-hand fight.  1 Kings 10:16;  2 Chronicles 9:15-16.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

The offensive arms found in the O.T. are:

1. The SWORD, for which several Hebrew words are used: a. baraq, often translated 'lightning;' it is 'glittering sword' in  Job 20:25 . b. chereb, a sword, as laying waste. It is the word commonly used in the O.T. for sword (everywhere indeed except in the references given here under the other words): it was a straight tapering weapon, with two edges and a sharp point.  Psalm 149:6;  Isaiah 14:19 . It is used metaphorically for keen and piercing words, as in  Psalm 57:4;  Psalm 64:3 . c. retsach, an undefined slaying weapon, translated 'sword' only in  Psalm 42:10 . d. shelach, a missile of death, as a dart.  Job 33:18;  Job 36:12;  Joel 2:8 . e. pethichoth, from 'to open,' is translated 'drawn sword' in  Psalm 55:21 .

2. SPEARS. a. chanith, thus named as being flexible: it is the word mostly used for the spear.  1 Samuel 13:19;  Psalm 57:4 . It is this weapon that will be beaten into pruning hooks.  Isaiah 2:4;  Micah 4:3 . b. kidon, a smaller kind of lance, or javelin.  Joshua 8:18,26;  Job 41:29;  Jeremiah 6:23 . c. tselatsal, harpoon.  Job 41:7 . d. qayin, lance,  2 Samuel 21:16 . e. romach, spear used by heavy-armed troops, the iron head of a spear.  Judges 5:8 , etc. The pruning hooks are to be beaten into spears in the time of God's judgements.  Joel 3:10 .

3. BOW, from which arrows are discharged, qesheth, generally made of wood, but sometimes of steel or brass.  Job 20:24 . It is constantly found in the O.T. from Genesis to Zechariah. It is used to express punishment from God,  Lamentations 2:4;  Lamentations 3:12; and of men to show their power to injure.  Psalm 37:14,15 . 'A deceitful bow' expresses a man who fails just when his aid is most needed, as when a bow breaks suddenly.  Psalm 78 :57;  Hosea 7:16 .

4. The SLING, by which stones are discharged, qela. It was by meansof this that David smote Goliath.  1 Samuel 17:40,49,50 . Of the Benjamites there were 700 men lefthanded; "every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss."  Judges 20:16 . (In  Proverbs 26:8 occurs another word for sling margemah, but the passage is considered better translated "as he that putteth a precious stone in a heap of stones," as in the margin. )

5. 'ENGINES,' with which Uzziah shot arrows and great stones.  2 Chronicles 26:15 .

King James Dictionary

'ARMS, n. plu. L. arma.

1. Weapons of offense, or armor for defense and protection of the body. 2. War hostility.

Arms and the man I sing.

To be in arms, to be in a state of hostility, or in a military life.

To arms is a phrase which denotes a taking arms for war or hostility particularly, a summoning to war.

To take arms, is to arm for attack or defense.

Bred to arms denotes that a person has been educated to the profession of a soldier.

3. The ensigns armorial of a family consisting of figures and colors borne in shields, banners, &c., as marks of dignity and distinction, and descending from father to son. 4. In law, arms are any thing which a man takes in his hand in anger, to strike or assault another. 5. In botany, one of the seven species of fulcra or props of plants, enumerated by Linne and others. The different species of arms or armor, are prickles, thorns, forks and stings, which seem intended to protect the plants from injury by animals.

Sire arms, are such as may be charged with powder, as cannon, muskets, mortars, &c.

A stand of arms consists of a musket, bayonet, cartridge-box and belt, with a sword. But for common soldiers a sword is not necessary.

In falconry, arms are the legs of a hawk from the thigh to the foot.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (n.) The ensigns armorial of a family, consisting of figures and colors borne in shields, banners, etc., as marks of dignity and distinction, and descending from father to son.

(2): (n.) The legs of a hawk from the thigh to the foot.

(3): (n.) Instruments or weapons of offense or defense.

(4): (n.) The deeds or exploits of war; military service or science.

(5): (n.) Anything which a man takes in his hand in anger, to strike or assault another with; an aggressive weapon.