The javelins, named chanith, and irOZ kidon, may have had distinct forms : from the con text, where chanith first occurs, it appears to have been a species of dart carried by light troops (I Sam. xiii. 22 ; Ps. xxxv. 3) ; while the kidon, which was heavier, was most likely a kind of pilum. In most nations of antiquity the infantry, not bearing a spear, carried two darts, those lightly armed using both for long casts, and the heavy armed only one for that purpose ; the second, more ponderous than the other, being reserved for throwing when close to the enemy, or for handling in the manner of a spear. This explanation may throw light on the fact of the chanith being named in connection with the MS' airmail, or larger buckler (t Chron. xii. 34), and may reconcile what is said of the kidon (Job xxxix. 23 ; xli. 29, and Josh. viii. IS). While on the subject of the javelin, it may be remarked that, by the act of casting one at David (r Sam. xix. 9, to), Saul virtually absolved him from his allegiance ; for by the customs of ancient Asia, preserved in the usages of the Teutonic and other nations, the Sachsen ircht, the custom of the East Franks, etc., •, to throw a dart at a freedman, who escaped from it by flight, was the demonstrative token of manu mission given by his lord or master ; he was thereby sent out of hand, manumissus, well expressed in the old English phrase ' scot-free.' But for this act of Saul, David might have been viewed as a rebel.
But the chief offensive weapon in Egypt, and, from the nature of the country, it may be inferred, in Palestine also, was the war-bow nvp-kesheth, and ninvp keshtoth, the arrows being denomi nated rri hhitz, wyn nnigzini. From the simple implements used by the first hunters, consisting merely of an elastic reed, a branch of a tree, or rib of palm, the bow became in the course of time very strong and tall, was made of brass, of wood backed with horn, or of horn entirely, and even of ivory ; some being shaped like the common English bow, and others, particularly those used by riding nations, like the buffalo horn. There were various modes of bending this instrument, by pressure of the knee, or by the foot, 111, treading the bow, or by set ting one end against the foot drawing the middle with the hand of the same side towards the hip, and pushing the upper point forward with the second hand, till the thumb passed the loop of the string beyond the nook. The horned bows of the MOM A 7 487. I, 2, 3, 4. Bows. 5, 6. Quivers. 7, 8. Arrows.
cavalry, shaped like those of the Chinese, occur on monuments of antiquity. They cannot be bent from their form of a Roman C to that of what is termed a Cupid's bow ---,---, but by placing one end under the thigh ; and as they are short, this operation is performed by Tahtar riders while in the saddle. This was the Parthian bow, as is proved by several Persian bas-reliefs, and may have been in use in the time of the Elamites, who were a mounted people. These bows were carried in cases to protect the string, which was composed of deer sinews, from injury, and were slung on the right hip of the rider, except when on the point of engaging. Then the string was often cast over the
head, and the bow hung upon the breast, with the two flocks above each shoulder, like a pair of horns. The hhitzim, or arrows, were likewise enclosed in a case or quiver, tell, hung sometimes on the shoulder, and at other times on the left side ; and six or eight flight-arrows were commonly stuck in the edge of the cap, ready to be pulled out and put to the string. The infantry always carried the arrows in a quiver on the right shoulder, and the bow was kept unbent until the moment of action. On a march it was carried on the shield arm, where there was frequently also a horn bracer secured below the elbow to receive the shock from the string when an arrow was discharged. The flight or long-range arrows were commonly of reed, not always feathered, and mostly tipped with flint points; but the shot or aimed arrows, used for nearer pur poses, were of wood tipped with metal, about 30 inches long, and winged with three lines of feathers, like those in modern use : they varied in length at different periods, and according to the substance of the bows.
The last missile instrument to be mentioned is the sling, kela (Job xli. 28), an improvement upon the simple act of throwing stones. It was the favourite weapon of the Benjamites, a small tribe, not making a great mass in an order of battle, but well composed for light troops. They could also boast of using the sling equally well with the left hand as with the right. The sling was made of plaited thongs, somewhat broad in the middle, to lodge the stone or leaden missile, and was twirled two or three times round before the stone was al lowed to take flight. Stones could not be cast uncertainty]. In the more advanced eras of lization shields were made of light wood not liable to split, covered with bull.hide of two or more above 400 feet, but leaden bullets could be thrown as far as Goo feet. The force as well as precision aim which might be attained in the use of this instrument was remarkably shewn in the case of David ; and several nations of antiquity boasted of great skill in the practice of the sling.
All these hand-weapons were in use at different periods, not only among the Hebrews and Egyp tians, but likewise in Assyria, Persia, Greece, and Macedonia ; in which last country the sarissa car ried by the heavy infantry of the phalanx differed from the others only in the great length of the shaft. The Roman pilum was a kind of dart, distinguish ed from those of other nations chiefly by its weight, and the great proportional length of the metal or iron part, which constituted one half of the whole, or from two and a half to three feet. Much of this length was hollow, and received nearly twenty inches of the shaft within it : the point was never hooked like that of common darts, because the weapon being nearly indestructible, the soldiers always reckoned upon advancing in battle and re covering it without trouble when thrown; where as, if it had been hooked or hamate, they could not have wrenched it out of hostile shields or breast plates without trouble and delay.