the covering of the back and breast and both upper arms (Isaiah 59:17;
Ephesians 6:14). The cuirass and corselet, composed of leather or quilted
cloth, were also for the covering of the body. Greaves, for the covering of
the legs, were worn in the time of David (1 Samuel 17:6). Reference is
made by Paul (Ephesians 6:14-17) to the panoply of a Roman soldier. The
shield here is the thureon, a door-like oblong shield above all, i.e., covering
the whole person, not the small round shield. There is no armour for the
back, but only for the front.
- ARMOUR-BEARER an officer selected by kings and generals because of
his bravery, not only to bear their armour, but also to stand by them in the
time of danger. They were the adjutants of our modern armies (Judges
9:54; 1 Samuel 14:7; 16:21; 31:6). - ARMOURY the place in which armour was deposited when not used
(Nehemiah 3:19; Jeremiah 50:25). At first each man of the Hebrews had
his own arms, because all went to war. There were no arsenals or
magazines for arms till the time of David, who had a large collection of
arms, which he consecrated to the Lord in his tabernacle (1 Sa,. 21:9; 2
Samuel 8:7-12; 1 Chronicles 26:26, 27). - ARMY The Israelites marched out of Egypt in military order (Exodus
13:18, “harnessed;” marg., “five in a rank”). Each tribe formed a battalion,
with its own banner and leader (Numbers 2:2; 10:14). In war the army was
divided into thousands and hundreds under their several captains
(Numbers 31:14), and also into families (Numbers 2:34; 2 Chronicles 25:5;
26:12). From the time of their entering the land of Canaan to the time of
the kings, the Israelites made little progress in military affairs, although
often engaged in warfare. The kings introduced the custom of maintaining a
bodyguard (the Gibborim; i.e., “heroes”), and thus the nucleus of a
standing army was formed. Saul had an army of 3,000 select warriors (1
Samuel 13:2; 14:52; 24:2). David also had a band of soldiers around him (1
Samuel 23:13; 25:13). To this band he afterwards added the Cherethites
and the Pelethites (2 Samuel 15:18; 20:7). At first the army consisted only
of infantry (1 Samuel 4:10; 15:4), as the use of horses was prohibited
(Deuteronomy 17:16); but chariots and horses were afterwards added (2
Samuel 8:4; 1 Kings 10:26, 28, 29; 1 Kings 9:19). In 1 Kings 9:22 there is
given a list of the various gradations of rank held by those who composed
the army. The equipment and maintenance of the army were at the public
expense (2 Samuel 17:28, 29; 1 Kings 4:27; 10:16, 17; Judges 20:10). At