Bible Dictionaries
Weapons

Holman Bible Dictionary

Since mankind's beginnings, the desire to impose one's will upon another person(s) or being has led to active conflict using many types of weapons. Human history shows marked means by which the implements were advanced technologically through the past six millennia.

The implements of warfare and defense are known from three sources: excavations; pictorial representations in murals, reliefs, and models; and written documents. Tombs of Egypt contained actual weapons and models. Assyrian reliefs depicted great battles in detail. Excavations have uncovered numerous examples of stone and metal weapons; and biblical and inscriptional sources provide names of objects, strategy and tactics, and methods of construction.

Military action has been defined in terms of ability to achieve supremacy over the enemy in three fields: mobility, firepower, and security. Mobility is exemplified by the chariot and cavalry; firepower by bow, sling, spear, axe and sword; and security by shield, armor, and helmet. See Arms and Armor; Chariots; Horse .

Dennis Cole