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Bible Encyclopedias
Harness
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or occurs in several senses in the Eng. Vers. as the rendering of different Heb. words.
1. אָסָר (asar', prop. to bind, as it is generally rendered) is sometimes applied to the act of fastening animals to a cart or vehicle, e.g. yoking kine (1 Samuel 6:7; 1 Samuel 6:10, "tie") or horses (Jeremiah 46:4, "harness"), gearing a chariot (Genesis 46:29; Exodus 14:6; 2 Kings 9:21, "make ready"), or absolutely (1 Kings 18:44; 2 Kings 9:21, ‘ prepare"). From the monuments we see that the harness of the Egyptian war-chariots was composed of leather, and the trappings were richly decorated, being stained with a great variety of colors, and studded with gold and silver. (See CHARIOT).
2. In the old English sense for armor ( נֵשֶׁק or נֶשֶׁק ne'shek, warlike accoutrements, elsewhere "armor,""weapons,"etc.), 2 Chronicles 9:24. (See ARMOR).
3. In a like sense for שַׁרְיָן (shiryan', 1 Kings 22:34; 2 Chronicles 18:33), a coat of mail ("breastplate," Isaiah 59:17). (See ARMOR).
4. "Harnessed"(חֲמֻשַׁים, chamushim', from חָמִשׁ in the sense of being fierce for battle) is the expression used to represent the equipped condition of the Israelites as they passed out of Egypt (Exodus 13:18, "armed," Joshua 1:14; Joshua 4:1-2 Judges 7:11), and seems to denote their orderly and intrepid disposal as if to meet a foe (the ancient versions interpret generally full-armed). (See Gesenius, Lex. s.v.)
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Harness'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/h/harness.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
