1. The tsinndh (iHSit, from a root 'DH, to protect) was the large shield, encompassing (Psa. v, 12) and forming a protection for tlie whole person. When not in actual conflict, the tsinndh was carried before the warrior (1 Sam. xvii, 7, 41). The definite article in the former passage {the shield, not " a shield" as in tlie A. V.) denotes the importance of the weapon. The word is used with " spear," rdmach (1 Chron. xii, 8, 14 ; 2 Chron, xi, 32, etc.), and chunith (1 Chron. xii, 34) as a formula for weapons generally.
2. Of smaller dimensions was the mar/m ("(ji'2, from "35, to corer), a buckler or target, probably for use in hand-to-hand tight. The difference in size between this and the tsinndh is evident from 1 Kings x, 16, 17; 2 Chron. ix, 15, 16, where a much larger quantity of gold is named as being used for the latter than for the for- mer. The portability of the nia</en maj- be inferred from the notice in xii, 9, 10 ; and perhaps also from 2 Sam. i, 21. The word is a favorite one with the poets of the Bible (see Job xv, 26; Psa. iii, 3; xviii, 2, etc.). Like tsinndh, it occurs in the formulated expressions for weapons of war, but usualh' coupled with light weapons, the bow (2 Chron. xi v, 8 ; xvii, 7), darts, nba (xxxii, 5).
Ancient Orieutnl Shields: 1. Ass.\ riiui ; 2, 3. I'ersian.
(From the monuineuts.)
IX.-U u
Ancient Egyptian Phalanx. (From the raouuments.)
3. What kind of arm the shelet (tisd) was it is im- possible to determine. By some translators it is ren- dered a " quiver," by some " weapons" generally, by oth- ers a "shield." Whether either or none of these is correct, it is clear that the word had a very individual sense at the time; it denoted certain special weapons taken by David from Hadadezer, king of Zobah (2 Sam. viii, 7 ; 1 Chron. xviii, 7), and dedicated in the temple, where they did service on the memorable occasion of Joash's proclamation (2 Kings xi, 10; 2 Chron. xxiii, 9), and where their remembrance long lingered (Cant, iv, 4). From the fact that these arms were of gold, it would seem that they cannot have been for offence. In the two other passages of its occurrence (Jer. li, 11; Ezek. xxvii, 11) the word has the force of a foreign arm.
4. In two passages (1 Sam. xvii, 45 ; Job xxxix, 23) kidon ("jTTiS), a dart, is thus erroneously rendered.
To these we may add socherdh (ri"inb, "buckler"), a poetical term, occurring only in Psa. xci, 4.
Finally, in Greek, ^vptitQ (probably a door, hence a large shield) occurs metaphorically once (Eph. vi, 16).
Among the Hebrews the ordinary shield consisted of a framework of wood covered with leather; it thus admitted of being burned (Ezek. xxxix, 9). The magen was frequently cased with metal, either brass or copper; its appearance in this case resembled gold, when the sun shone on it (1 JIacc. vi, 39), and to this rather than to the practice of smearing blood on the shield we may refer the redness noticed by Nahum (ii, 3). The sur- face of the shield was kept bright by the application of oil, as implied in Isa. xxi, 5; hence, Saul's shield is de- scribed as "not anointed with oil," i.e. dusty and gory (2 Sam. i, 21). Oil would be as useful for the metal as for the leather shield. In order to preserve it from the effects of weather, the sliield was kept covered except in actual conflict (Isa. xxii, 6 ; comp.Cfesar, B. G. ii, 21 ; Cicero, Nut. JJeor. ii, 14). The shield was worn on the left arm, to which it was attached by a strap. It was used not only in the fieki, but also in besieging towns, when it served for the protection of the head, the com- bined sliields of the besiegers forming a kind oftestudo (Ezek. xxvi, 8). Sluelds of state were covered with
SHIELD
674
SHIELDS
Modern Oriental Shields and Spears.
o, large Arabic shield ; *, small do. : c, side view of the same ; rf, large Turk- ish shield ; e, Mameluke shield ; /, Arabiau spear ; j, Turkish ; /i, Wam- eloke.
beaten gold. Solomon made such for use in religious processions (1 Kings x, 1(5, 17); when these were car- ried off they were replaced by shields of brass, which, as being less valuable, were kept in the guard-room (xiv, 27), while the former had been suspended in the palace for ornament. A large golden shield was sent as a present to the Romans when the treaty with them was renewed by Simon Maccabeus (1 Mace, xiv, 2-1; XV, 18) : it was intended as a token of alliance ((rvfifio- Xoi> Tt'ig avuiiaxiaQ, Josephus, Ant. xiv, 8, 5); but whether any symbolic significance was attached to the shield in particular as being the weapon of protection is uncertain. Other instances of a similar present occur (Sueton. Calif). 16), as well as of complimentary presents of a different kind on the part of allies (Cicero, Verr. 2 Act. iv, 29, 67). Shields were suspended about pub- lic buildings for ornamental purposes (1 Kings x, 17; I Mace, iv, 57 ; vi, 2). This was particularly the case with the shields (assuming shelet to have this meaning) which David took from Iladadezer (2 Sam. viii, 7 ; Cant. iv, 4), and which were afterwards turned to practical account (2 Kings xi, 10; 2 Chron. xxiii, 9). The Gam- madim similarly suspended them about their towers (F>zek. xxvii, 11). See (Jajimadim. In the metaphor- ical language of the Bible the shield generally repre- sents the protection of (iod (e. g. Psa. iii, 3 ; xxviii, 7) ; but in xlvii, 9 it is applied to earthly rulers, and in Eph. vi, 16 to faith. — Smith.