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).
