Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

HAMMER

The use of hammers in the ancient Near East begins with stone hammers, stone heads with a hole bored for a wooden handle. In building Solomon’s temple, iron hammers were used. Three Hebrew words represent the English “hammer”: halmûṯ (Judg. 5:26), a “worker’s hammer”; maqqeḇeṯ (Judg. 4:21; 1 Kgs. 6:7; Isa. 44:12; Jer. 10:4), a “hammer” with which one drives nails or pegs; and paṭṭîš (Isa. 41:7; Jer. 23:29; 50:23), a “forge-hammer.” All are represented in the LXX by the generic Gk. sphýra. Heb. halmûṯ and maqqeḇeṯ appear to be interchangeable in Judg. 4:21; 5:26, where Jael drives a tent peg through Sisera’s head with a hammer.

Judas’ title “Maccabeus” (1 Macc. 2:4; Josephus Ant. 12.6.1 [265-67]) is widely believed to be based on maqqeḇeṯ. “Hammer” is also used metaphorically for God’s word (Jer. 23:29) and for Babylon, the hammer of the earth (50:23).

Thomas Scott Caulley

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

HAMMER

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)