Shield

Shield to be well armed, especially with defensive arms, gives courage and confidence, and boldness to attack or undertake anything. Thus Horace, speaking of the boldness of him that first ventured to sea, saith that his breast was armed with treble brass, L. i. od.

Hence the shield is with the Oneirocritics a symbol of courage. In c. 233, they say it betokens intrepidity, and that if a king sees a shield in his dream, it denotes a stout commander under him against his enemies, such a general

being the shield of a king, ἡ γὰρ ἀσπὶς εἰς πρόσωπον ἐκρίθηητοῦ πολεμάρχου αυτοῡ.

So in Æschylus, the adulteress Clytemnestra is confi­dent, that as long as Ægisthus, her luminary, shall blaze in. her house, he will be her protector and shield, and drive away all fear.^f1

Thus in Psa 33:20, David calls God his shield; in the Hebrew ïâî H4043 from ïðâ H1598, to protect, cover, defend. And in Psa 18:2, God is called the help and buckler, the offensive and defensive arms of his people.

F1 ֶschyl. Agamemn. ver. 1443.

The Lord is frequently pleased to call himself the shield of his people. (Gen. xv. 1. Ps. v. 12. Ps. l34. 11.) And most blessedly, with an eye to Christ, do the sacred writers speak in this language. (Ps. 18: 1, 2.) And where Christ is indeed the shield, what weapon formed against his people can prosper? (Isa. 54: 16, 17.)

See ARMS.

Shield [ARMS]

A piece of defensive armor. God is often called the shield of his people, Gen 15:1 Psa 5:12 84:11, as are also princes and great men, 2Sa 1:21 Psa 47:9 . See ARMOR.\par

Shield. The ordinary shield consisted of a framework of wood, covered with leather; it thus admitted of being burnt. Eze 39:9. It was frequently cased with metal, either brass or copper; its appearance, in this case, resembled gold, when the sun shone on it, 1Ma 6:39, and to this, rather than to the practice of smearing blood on the shield, we may refer the redness noticed by Nahum. Nah 2:3. The surface of the shield was kept bright by the application of oil as implied in Isa 21:5.

The shield was worn on the left arm, to which it was attached by a strap. Shields of state were covered with beaten gold. Shields were suspended about public buildings for ornamental purposes. 1Ki 10:17. In the metaphorical language of the Bible, the shield generally represents the protection of God: for example, Psa 3:3; Psa 28:7, but in Psa 47:9, it is applied to earthly rulers and in Eph 6:18, to faith. See Arms.

(See ARMS.) Being of wood covered with leather, it might be burned (Eze 39:9). In Nah 2:3, "the shield ... is made red," the reference is to bull’s hide shields dyed red to strike terror into the foe, or rather to the red reflection of the sun’s rays from shields of bronze or copper, such as are found among the Assyrian remains. The surface was kept bright with oil, which preserved both the leather and the metal, Isa 21:5, "anoint the shield": Isaiah warns the Babylonian revelers to prepare for instant self defense; offensive arms are not mentioned, as Cyrus would take them by surprise in the midst of a feast (2Sa 1:21).

The shield was covered when not in use; Isa 22:6, "Kir uncovered the shield," i.e. took off for battle the leather cover which protected the embossed figures from dust or injury. In Psa 47:9, "the shields of the earth belong unto God," the shields are the princes as protectors of their people (Hos 4:18). Faith is our shield "above all" (Eph 6:16), i.e. to cover all that was put on before; but Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts read "IN all things." Faith will certainly intercept (not only "ye may," but "ye shall be able") and so "quench all the fire-tipped darts of the evil one" (1Pe 5:9; 1Jn 5:4; 1Jn 5:18). Fire darts were canes with tow and combustibles ignited on the head. to set fire to wood and tents.

As a protection for the body, see ARMOUR.

By: Emil G. Hirsch, Immanuel Benzinger

Like most peoples of antiquity, the Israelites used two kinds of shields—a large one which covered the whole body and was carried by the heavy-armed infantry, and a small, easily managed one, carried by the light-armed troops. The former was called "ẓinnah"; it served to protect the spearmen (I Chron. xii. 8, 24, 34; II Chron. xiv. 8, xxv. 5). The men of the tribes of Judah and Naphtali were armed with such shields, together with spears. Prominent warriors and leaders had their shields carried before them by special bearers (I Sam. xvii. 7, 41). The ẓinnah served the Psalmist as a figurative expression of the protecting favor of God (Ps. v. 13 et al.).

The small shield was called "magen," and was carried by the bowmen and light troops (I Chron. v. 18; II Chron. xiv. 8, xvii. 17), as well as by the king(Ps. xlvii. 10, lxxxix. 19). That the difference in size between the two kinds of shields was very great is seen from I Kings x. 16 et seq. and II Chron. ix. 15 et seq., according to which twice as much gold was required to cover the one as the other.

The Old Testament gives no details as to the forms of the two shields. The Egyptian large shield was nearly as high as a man, rather broad, cut straight at the bottom, and pointed like an arch at the top. The common small shield was also straight at the bottom, but toward the top it was somewhat broader and ended in a curve, the points of which were higher than the center. Among the Assyrians many different forms were in use at different times. Some were in the shape of a somewhat long, arched tetragon; others were rounded at the top; while still others were large, circular, and convex. Whatever the shape, each had on the inner side a handle by which it was held; and frequently it had a boss on the outer side. When not in use it could be carried over the shoulder by means of a strap which passed around the neck.

Shields were usually made of wood, wickerwork, or leather. The larger kinds demanded a light material, which is spoken of as very inflammable (Ezek. xxxix. 9). The leather was rubbed with oil to keep it pliant (II Sam. i. 21; Isa. xxi. 5). Shields plated with metal were also used. Those used on spectacular and formal occasions were, as mentioned above, plated with gold (I Kings x. 16 et seq.).

SHIELD.—See Armour Arms, § 2 (a).

shēld. See ARMOR, IV., 1.

See Armour.

Gen 15:1 (a) The preserving and protecting care over His children is thus understood. Eph 6:16 (b) Here is an attitude of trust in the living GOD which preserves the heart of the child of GOD from injury by that which others say and do.