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Bible Dictionaries
Sling
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
or (See ARMS.) 1 Samuel 17:40. Smooth stones were preferred. The Benjamites' expertness with it was famed (Judges 20:16; 1 Chronicles 12:2). Suited for skirmishing, and for striking the besieged (2 Kings 3:25; 2 Chronicles 26:14). Two strings attached to a leather center, the hollow receptacle of the stone, composed it. 1 Samuel 25:29, "the soul of thine enemies Itc will hurl away in the cup (kaph ) of the sling." It was swung round the head, then one string was let go and the stone hurled out.
Image of "sudden and violent removal" (Jeremiah 10:18). Translated Zechariah 9:15, "they (the Jews) shall tread under foot the sling stones" hurled at them by the foe, and falling harmless at their feet (Job 41:28). Their foes shall be as such sling stones when fallen under foot; in contrast to God's people (Zechariah 9:16), "the (precious) stones of a crown." In Proverbs 26:8, "as he that bindeth a stone in a sling" (margemah , distinct from qela' a "sling"), the stone bound is useless to the slinger; so "honour" is useless when "given to a feel" (Ewald). Maurer translated "hurleth." Chaldean, Syriac, and Arabic support KJV; the Vulgate supports margin, "as he that putteth a precious stone in an heap of stones." KJV is best.
These files are public domain.
Fausset, Andrew R. Entry for 'Sling'. Fausset's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/fbd/s/sling.html. 1949.
