Armageddon @ occurs only in Revelation:16:16 (R.V., "Har-Magedon"), as symbolically designating the place where the "battle of that great day of God Almighty" (ver. 14) shall be fought. The word properly means the "mount of Megiddo." It is the scene of the final conflict between Christ and Antichrist. The idea of such a scene was suggested by the Old Testament great battle-field, the plain of Esdraelon (q.v.).
Armenia @ high land, occurs only in Authorized Version, 2Kings:19:37; in Revised Version, "Ararat," which is the Hebrew word. A country in western Asia lying between the Caspian and the Black Sea. Here the ark of Noah rested after the Deluge Genesis:8:4). It is for the most part high table-land, and is watered by the Aras, the Kur, the Euphrates, and the Tigris. Ararat was properly the name of a part of ancient Armenia. Three provinces of Armenia are mentioned in Jeremiah:51:27, Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz. Some, however, think Minni a contraction for Armenia. (See ARARAT
Armoni @ inhabitant of a fortress, the first-named of the two sons of Saul and Rizpah. He was delivered up to the Gibeonites by David, and hanged by them ( 2Samuel:21:8-9).
Armour @ is employed in the English Bible to denote military equipment, both offensive and defensive. (1.) The offensive weapons were different at different periods of history. The "rod of iron" Psalms:2:9) is supposed to mean a mace or crowbar, an instrument of great power when used by a strong arm. The "maul" Proverbs:25:18; cognate Hebrew word rendered "battle-axe" in Jeremiah:51:20, and "slaughter weapon" in Ezekiel:9:2) was a war-hammer or martel. The "sword" is the usual translation of _hereb_, which properly means "poniard." The real sword, as well as the dirk-sword (which was always double-edged), was also used ( 1Samuel:17:39; 2Samuel:20:8; kjvKings:20:11). The spear was another offensive weapon Joshua:8:18; 1Samuel:17:7). The javelin was used by light troops Numbers:25:7-8; 1Samuel:13:22). Saul threw a javelin at David ( 1Samuel:19:9-10), and so virtually absolved him from his allegiance. The bow was, however, the chief weapon of offence. The arrows were carried in a quiver, the bow being always unbent till the moment of action Genesis:27:3Genesis:48:22; Psalms:18:34). The sling was a favourite weapon of the Benjamites ( 1Samuel:17:40; 1Chronicles:12:2. Comp. 1Samuel:25:29). (2.) Of the defensive armour a chief place is assigned to the shield or buckler. There were the great shield or target (the _tzinnah_), for the protection of the whole person Genesis:15:1; Psalms:47:9; 1Samuel:17:7; Proverbs:30:5), and the buckler (Heb. _mageen_) or small shield (kjvKings:10:17; Ezekiel:26:8). In Psalms:91:4 "buckler" is properly a roundel appropriated to archers or slingers. The helmet Ezekiel:27:10; 1Samuel:17:38), a covering for the head; the coat of mail or corselet ( 1Samuel:17:5), or habergeon Nehemiah:4;16), harness or breat-plate Revelation:9:9), for the covering of the back and breast and both upper arms Isaiah:59:17; Ephesians:6:14). The cuirass and corselet, composed of leather or quilted cloth, were also for the covering of the body. Greaves, for the covering of the legs, were worn in the time of David ( 1Samuel:17:6). Reference is made by Paul Ephesians:6:14-17) to the panoply of a Roman soldier. The shield here is the thureon, a door-like oblong shield above all, i.e., covering the whole person, not the small round shield. There is no armour for the back, but only for the front.
Armour-bearer @ an officer selected by kings and generals because of his bravery, not only to bear their armour, but also to stand by them in the time of danger. They were the adjutants of our modern armies Judges:9:54; 1Samuel:14:71Samuel:16:211Samuel:31:6 ).
Armoury @ the place in which armour was deposited when not used Nehemiah:3:19; Jeremiah:50:25). At first each man of the Hebrews had his own arms, because all went to war. There were no arsenals or magazines for arms till the time of David, who had a large collection of arms, which he consecrated to the Lord in his tabernacle (1 Sa,. 21:9; 2Samuel:8:7-12; 1Chronicles:26:26-27).
Army @ The Israelites marched out of Egypt in military order Exodus:13:18, "harnessed;" marg., "five in a rank"). Each tribe formed a battalion, with its own banner and leader Numbers:2:2Numbers:10:14). In war the army was divided into thousands and hundreds under their several captains Numbers:31:14), and also into families Numbers:2:34; 2Chronicals:25:52Chronicals:26:12). From the time of their entering the land of Canaan to the time of the kings, the Israelites made little progress in military affairs, although often engaged in warfare. The kings introduced the custom of maintaining a bodyguard (the Gibborim; i.e., "heroes"), and thus the nucleus of a standing army was formed. Saul had an army of 3,000 select warriors ( 1Samuel:13:21Samuel:14:521Samuel:24:2 ). David also had a band of soldiers around him ( 1Samuel:23:131Samuel:25:13). To this band he afterwards added the Cherethites and the Pelethites ( 2Samuel:15:182Samuel:20:7). At first the army consisted only of infantry ( 1Samuel:4:101Samuel:15:4), as the use of horses was prohibited Deuteronomy:17:16); but chariots and horses were afterwards added ( 2Samuel:8:4; kjvKings:10:26-28, 29; kjvKings:9:19). In kjvKings:9:22 there is given a list of the various gradations of rank held by those who composed the army. The equipment and maintenance of the army were at the public expense ( 2Samuel:17:28-29; kjvKings:4:27; 10:16-17; Judges:20:10). At the Exodus the number of males above twenty years capable of bearing arms was 600,000 Exodus:12:37). In David's time it mounted to the number of 1-300,000 ( 2Samuel:24:9).
