Weapons and warfare

The weapons, armor, chariots and city walls of the Bible lands — how they were made and used, and what the texts and excavations show of the wars of the time.

Sword and daggerHebrew cherev · Greek machaira · blades for cutting and thrusting
Bow and arrowHebrew qeshet (bow), chets (arrow) · Greek toxon · the composite bow
SlingHebrew qela · stones or lead pellets · a shepherd’s tool that became a weapon
Spear and javelinHebrew chanit (spear), kidon (javelin) · Greek lonchē · one thrust, the other thrown
Shield, helmet and armorHebrew magen, tsinnah (shields), shiryon (coat of mail), kova (helmet)
Chariots and horsesHebrew merkavah, rekhev · Greek harma · a two-wheeled vehicle drawn by horses
City walls and siegesWalls, gates, ramps, rams and tunnels · the Assyrian siege of Lachish, 701 BC