58 HEBREW LIFE AND CUSTOM
formed of overlapping plates (kaskassɪm) ɪ attached to the
breastplate with rivets {masmerim},z the point of junction
of the plates with the frames of the breastplate being
called débhek (pl. dtbhakim).^i Another interpretation, how-
ever, is that the overlapping plates were attached to the
lower edge of the breastplate and formed a protection for
the lower part of the body. The former interpretation best
suits the description of Goliath’s breastplate, and there is
no evidence that the plates hung down below it. Accord-
ing to the former explanation of the breastplate the arrow
that killed Ahab penetrated between the overlapping plates
and the frame to which they were attached.4
It is not quite clear what is to be understood by the
warrior’s girdle (⅛gorα),≡ which perhaps formed some pro-
tection for the lower part of the body. It is to be noted,
however, that the corresponding verb 6 is used for putting
on various sorts of equipment, and the word hagôra may
therefore, when used of a warrior, have a somewhat
wider meaning. Isaiah mentions a belt, ez,ɑr^1 to which
the sword was probably attached. The legs were some-
times protected with greaves (m!⅛),8 which in the case of
Goliath were of bronze.
ɪ I Sam. xvii. 5.
, Isa. xli. 7. This word is usually rendered ‘ nails a rendering
which receives some support from Jer. x. 4. ζ Rivets ’ would, how-
ever, suit that passage equally well, and also ɪ Chron. xxii. 3,
2 Chron. iii. 9, Eccles, xii. ιι. Unfortunately it is not quite clear
whether the sarcasm in Isa. xli. 7 is directed towards the making of
idol images to help in the crisis, or towards the manufacture of
armour. The former interpretation has been inferred from Jer. x.
4 (cf. Isa. xliv. 12 ff.). It is, however, to be noted that the word
hârâsh, rendered t carpenter ’ in Isa. xli. 7, may equally well mean
‘ smith ’, and that sôrëph, rendered ‘ goldsmith ’, though commonly
used of one who refines precious metals, is equally applicable to one
who smelts any sort of ore. The mention of the anvil in Isa. xli 7 does
not seem applicable to the beating of gold plates.
3 Isa. xli. 7. 4ι Kings xxii. 34. 5 2 Kings iii. 21.
6 Deut. i. 41 ; ɪ Sam. xxv. 13; Judges iii. ι6 ; ɪ Sam. xvii. 39;
x Kings xx. ɪɪ. 7 Isa. v. 27. 8 ɪ Sam. xvii. 6.
ARMOUR, WAR-HORSES 59
Shoes, when worn, appear to have been of the ordinary
kind.1
In addition to the armour which he wore the warrior
carried a shield (mâgkën),2 which was greased to make the
surface more slippery. Besides the mâghên there was a very
large shield (sinna) covering the whole body? This seems
to have been part of the equipment of the ordinary soldier,
and when not needed in actual conflict it was carried be-
fore the warrior to whom it belonged by a person called a
gear-carrier (Scottice ‘caddie’).4 It was pointed out by
Robertson Smith that the right translation of ɪ Sam. xvii.
41 is ‘ the man (sc. Goliath) was carrying the great shield
in front of him ’—consequently no part of him was exposed
except his face, so that it required an expert marksman to
hit a vulnerable spot.
The Hebrews being highlanders rather than dwellers in
the plains, did not originally possess cavalry, and fought
best on foot.5 Their later emulation of their neighbours in
this respect called forth many an indignant protest from
the prophets, who saw with alarm the growth of a jingo
spirit.6
Horses were not bred in Palestine, where the ass was the
ordinary beast of burden, but were imported from Egypt.7
Cavalry, however, seem to have been employed by the
Hebrew kings in early times.8
That division of the army which may be regarded as
cavalry seems to have consisted of two classes, those who
fought from chariots and those who rode on horseback.
ɪ ɪ Kings ii. 5 ; Isa. v. 27. The shoes mentioned in Isa. ix. 4 (E.V.
ver. 5) are those worn by foreign soldiery.
3 Judges v. 8 ; 2 Sam. i. 2 ɪ ; Isa. xxi. 5.
3 i Kings X. 16 ; ɪ Sam. xvii. 41.
4 Judges ix. 54; i Sam. xiv. ι, &c. ; 2 Sam. xxiii. 37.
5 i Kings xx. 23.
6 Amos iv. ɪo ; Hos. i. 7, xiv. 4 (E.V. ver. 3) ; Isa. ii. 7 ; Mic. v.
9 (E.V. ver. 10) ; Deut. xvii. ι6.
7 Deut. xi. 4, xvii. 16 ; Isa. xxxi. 1,3; I Kings x. 28.
8 2 Sam. xv. i ; ɪ Kings v. 6, 8 (E.V. iv. 26, 28), xviii. 5.