2 Samuel
1:10 Armlets
“And I took the crown that was on his head and the band (bracelet, KJV) on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.”
The Hebrew word etsadah, translated bracelet in the KJV, is more properly an anklet than a bracelet, but since it is here spoken of in our text-verse in connection with the arm it doubtless means an armlet; that is, an arm band. The word occurs also in Numbers 31:50, where it is associated with tsamid (bracelet), and is rendered chains in the KJV and armlets in the NIV. Saul’s armlet is believed to have been a part of the insignia of his royalty. Egyptian monarchs are often illustrated on monuments wearing armlets and bracelets. The Persian kings often wore them, and they were common among the royalty in several Middle East countries not many years ago. Many of the bracelets and anklets were elaborately wrought and richly ornamented with jewels. From Song of Songs 8:6, it appears that the signet was sometimes placed in the armlet: “like a seal on your arm.”
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| Egyptian Armlets |
Freeman, James M., and Harold J. Chadwick. Manners & Customs of the Bible. North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998. Print.
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