Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SLING

A weapon consisting of two thongs made of rushes, animal sinews, leather, cloth, or hair attached to a wider pocket that held the projectile. The projectile was placed in the pocket and swung above the head one to three times. When the desired centrifugal force had been generated, one thong was released, discharging the missile. The sling was inexpensively manufactured and required little technical know-how to produce. Optimum accuracy (Judg. 20:16) was achieved only by years of practice. Stones were carried into battle in a bag (1 Sam. 17:40). During a siege they were piled at the slinger’s feet. The average slingstone was slightly smaller than a tennis ball.

As evidenced in wall paintings, reliefs, and statues, the sling has been used as a weapon since at least 8000 b.c. It appeared first as a weapon of herdsmen, who used it to protect animals from predators. By the Middle Bronze Age slingers were found among the light infantry in Egypt.

The bow and sling were the two primary long-range weapons. The intent of the slinger was to incapacitate the enemy so that the fatal blow could be delivered by the infantry (2 Kgs. 3:25). Biconical missiles could pierce armor, and even if penetration did not result, the impact could cause fatal internal injury. Slingers can be seen to have had a decided tactical advantage when pitted against soldiers outfitted with short-range weapons (1 Sam. 17:40-51).

Bibliography. R. Gonen, Weapons of the Ancient World (Minneapolis, 1976); Y. Yadin, The Art of Warfare in Biblical Lands in the Light of Archaeological Study, 2 vols. (Jerusalem, 1963).

W. E. Nunnally

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SLING

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)