CHAIN. Chains of gold appear to have been much used among the Hebrews—i. As badges of official distinction, as they are among ourselves at the present day. The earliest mention of them occurs in Gen. xli. 42, where we are told that a chain of gold formed a part of the investiture of Joseph in the high office to which he was raised in Egypt ; a later instance occurs in Dan. v. 29, from which we learn that a golden chain was part of a dress of honour at Babylon. In Egypt the judges wore chains of gold, to which was attached a jewelled figure of Thmei, or Truth ; and in that country similar chains were also worn as ornaments by the women. It is not, however, necessary to suppose that the Hebrews derived this custom from the Egyptians ; for the fact that chains are mentioned among the spoil of the Midianites shews that they were in use among people whose condi tion of life more nearly resembled that of the Is raelites before they obtained possession of Canaan. 2. As ornaments. It would seem that chains were worn both by men and women for this pur pose (Prov. i. 9 ; Ezek. xvi. i t), amid we find them
enumerated among the ornaments of brides (Cant. i. to ; iv. 9). In Cant. iv. 9 the neck ornament of the bride is called the chain of her neck ; and in Prov. i. 9 parental counsels are compared to orna ments of grace unto the head, and chains around the neck of a child. Among the spoils taken from the Midianites were chains which they used to adorn the necks of their camels ( Judg. viii. 26). 3. As a means of confinement ( Judg. xvi. 21 ; Ps. cxlix. 8). It was a custom among the Romans to fasten a prisoner with a light chain to the soldier who was appointed to guard him. One end of it was at tached to the right hand of the prisoner, and the other to the left hand of the soldier. This is the chain by which Paul was so often bound, and to which he repeatedly alludes (Acts xxviii. 20 ; Eph. vi. 20 ; 2 Tim. i. 16). When the utmost security was desired, the prisoner was attached by two chains to two soldiers, as was the case with Peter (Acts xii. 6).