Marshal
King James Dictionary [1]
M`ARSHAL, n.
1. The chief officer of arms, whose duty it is to regulate combats in the lists. 2. One who regulates rank and order at a feast or any other assembly, directs the order of procession and the like. 3. A harbinger a pursuivant one who goes before a prince to declare his coming and provide entertainment. 4. In France, the highest military officer. In other countries of Europe, a marshal is a military officer of high rank, and called field-marshal. 5. In America, a officer, appointed by the President and Senate of the United States, in each judicial district, answering to the sheriff of a county. His duty is to execute all precepts directed to him, issued under the authority of the United States. 6. An officer of any private society, appointed to regulate their ceremonies and execute their orders.
Earl marshal of England, the eighth officer of state an honorary title, and personal, until made hereditary by Charles II, in the family of Howard. During a vacancy in the office of high constable, the earl marshal has jurisdiction in the court of chivalry.
Earl marshal of Scotland. This officer formerly had command of the cavalry, under the constable. This office was held by the family of Keith, but forfeited by rebellion in 1715.
Knight marshal, or marshal of the king's house, formerly an officer who was to execute the commands of the lord steward, and have the custody of prisoners committed by the court of verge hence, the name of a prison in Southwark.
Marshal of the king's bench, an officer who has the custody of the prison called the king's bench, in Southwark. He attends on the court and has the charge of the prisoners committed by them.
Webster's Dictionary [2]
(1): ( n.) One who regulates rank and order at a feast or any other assembly, directs the order of procession, and the like.
(2): ( n.) A ministerial officer, appointed for each judicial district of the United States, to execute the process of the courts of the United States, and perform various duties, similar to those of a sheriff. The name is also sometimes applied to certain police officers of a city.
(3): ( n.) The highest military officer.
(4): ( n.) Originally, an officer who had the care of horses; a groom.
(5): ( n.) An officer of high rank, charged with the arrangement of ceremonies, the conduct of operations, or the like
(6): ( n.) One who goes before a prince to declare his coming and provide entertainment; a harbinger; a pursuivant.
(7): ( n.) The chief officer of arms, whose duty it was, in ancient times, to regulate combats in the lists.
(8): ( v. t.) To dispose in order; to arrange in a suitable manner; as, to marshal troops or an army.
(9): ( v. t.) To direct, guide, or lead.
(10): ( v. t.) To dispose in due order, as the different quarterings on an escutcheon, or the different crests when several belong to an achievement.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [3]
MARSHAL. 1. For AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘scribe’ RV [Note: Revised Version.] of Judges 5:14 has ‘marshal.’ It was the duty of this officer to muster the men available for a campaign. In later times he kept a register of their names ( 2 Kings 25:10 , Jer 52:25 , 2 Chronicles 26:11 , where the same Heb. word is used; see also 1Ma 5:42 ). The staff (not ‘pen’) in his hand was an emblem of authority ( Judges 5:14; cf. Numbers 21:18 ). 2. The Heb. tiphsar is identified with the Assyr. [Note: Assyrian.] dupsarru , ‘tahlet-writer,’ ‘scribe.’ In Jeremiah 51:27 and Nahum 3:17 it denotes a military officer of high rank (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘ captain ,’ RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘marshal.’ [The alteration was not imperatively necessary]).
J. Taylor.
Holman Bible Dictionary [4]
Jeremiah 51:27
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [5]
mar´shal : Not found in the King James Version, but in the Revised Version (British and American) the word represents two Hebrew words: (1) ספר , ṣōphēr ( Judges 5:14 ), translated "they that handle the marshal's staff." A difficulty arises because the usual meaning of ṣōphēr is "scribe" or "writer" (so the King James Version). The revisers follow Septuagint and Greek authority which favor "marshal" as against "scribe." The office of marshal was to help the general to maintain discipline (compare 1 Macc 5:42). (2) טפסר , ṭiphṣar ( Jeremiah 51:27 ), a loan-word whose meaning is clear. Lenormant thinks it akin to a Babylonian-Assyrian word meaning "tablet-writer" (compare Delitzsch). Accordingly, the Revised Version margin renders Nahum 3:17 "thy scribes," though the Syriac has "thy warriors," as does the Targum in Jeremiah. We must await further light on both words.
