Topical Bible: Spear: Often Retained in the Hand of the Person Using

◄ Spear: Often Retained in the Hand of the Person Using ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The spear is a prominent weapon mentioned throughout the Bible, often depicted as a tool of war and a symbol of power. In biblical times, the spear was a common weapon used by soldiers and warriors, and it frequently appears in narratives involving battles and personal combat. The spear's design, typically consisting of a long shaft with a pointed metal tip, made it effective for both throwing and thrusting, allowing the wielder to engage enemies at a distance or in close quarters.

Old Testament References

The spear is first mentioned in the context of warfare and personal defense. In 1 Samuel 17:7, the spear of Goliath is described in detail: "The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels." This description emphasizes the formidable nature of Goliath's weapon, underscoring his strength and the challenge he posed to the Israelites.

King Saul, the first king of Israel, is frequently associated with the spear. In 1 Samuel 18:10-11, Saul's spear becomes a symbol of his jealousy and hostility towards David: "The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he began to prophesy inside the house while David was playing the harp as usual. Saul had a spear in his hand, and he hurled it, thinking, 'I will pin David to the wall.' But David eluded him twice." Here, the spear is not only a weapon but also a representation of Saul's inner turmoil and his deteriorating relationship with David.

In 2 Samuel 23:18, Abishai, the brother of Joab, is noted for his prowess with the spear: "Now Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three. And he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killing them, and won a name along with the Three." This passage highlights the spear as a tool of valor and heroism, used by one of David's mighty men to achieve great feats in battle.

New Testament References

While the New Testament does not focus on the spear as a weapon of war, it does include a significant mention of the spear in the context of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In John 19:34, the spear is used to confirm Jesus' death: "Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out." This act fulfills Old Testament prophecy and serves as a testament to the reality of Jesus' death, which is central to Christian theology.

Symbolism and Significance

Throughout the Bible, the spear is often retained in the hand of the person using it, symbolizing readiness, authority, and the ability to exert power or influence. It is a weapon that requires skill and strength, and its presence in biblical narratives often underscores the seriousness of conflict and the gravity of the situations described.

The spear's role in biblical accounts reflects the broader themes of conflict, leadership, and divine intervention. Whether in the hands of a giant like Goliath, a troubled king like Saul, or a valiant warrior like Abishai, the spear serves as a reminder of the human struggle and the need for divine guidance and protection.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 25:7
And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Samuel 2:23
However, he refused to turn aside: why Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Letter Lxxv. (AD 404. )
... wound, which has been opened by a spear driven home ... say, understand it (for it is
often the case ... your teaching what good things which were Jewish he retained. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter lxxv a d 404.htm

Prolegomena.
... it with the point of his spear and said ... of the British islands still retained their
independence. ... Queen Theodelinda, as the blessed Gregory often admonished her ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leo/writings of leo the great/prolegomena.htm

The Gods of Egypt
... with a group of upright plumes, his spear raised and ... before Haroeris at Edfu, and
there retained only the ... the lion's head with which he is often represented. ...
/.../chapter ii the gods of egypt.htm

On the Soul and the Resurrection.
... light, the complete disc of the sun is often to be ... the limits of the soul; similarity
cannot be retained in those ... If on the other hand any one will accept a ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/on the soul and the 2.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... years, allowed their critical faculties, and often their imagination ... of them furnish
us at first-hand with the ... flashing sword, and the glittering spear; and a ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Greatness of the Soul,
... He portrays it as drawn by the unerring hand of its Maker. ... to conceive the greatness
and value of the soul, the importance of the body is too often overlooked. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the greatness of the soul.htm

Answer to Eunomius' Second Book .
... when he shook against the Israelites that ponderous spear we read of ... to that other
upon itself, being retained by the ... by any of the means ready to hand for his ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/answer to eunomius second book.htm

Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus.
... falls upon you, you are thrust through with your own spear. ... This man knows well how
often I have done the same by ... I will refer on the matter now in hand to the ...
/.../various/life and works of rufinus with jeromes apology against rufinus /