2009/09/28

Classical Slinging


Michelangelo's sculpture of the David depicts our hero carrying... you guessed it: a sling. It is easy to miss because most shots of the famous figure are taken from the front, but the sling pouch is visible only from the side and the stays only from behind. It got me thinking about Biblical references to the sling. The sling was used by ancient civilizations all over the world. Everyone from the Aztec's to the Egyptians knew and used this ancient weapon, Israel was no different. In Judges 20:16 a band of slingers are spoken of:

Out of all these people 700 choice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

Yikes... I'd be happy hitting a dumpster at 30 yards, in 1 Chronicles 12:2 the famous Benjamite slingers are mentioned:

They were equipped with bows, using both the right hand and the left {to sling} stones and {to shoot} arrows from the bow; {they were} Saul's kinsmen from Benjamin.

Slinging with both hands?! My left hand can't even hold a fork, then there's this interesting Proverb:

Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.

We all know what happens when the stone won't leave the sling, but is bound to it... it comes back around to smack you in the head. And of course the most famous of them all in 1 Samuel 17:40

He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag which he had, even in {his} pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.

I must say in my search for the perfect projectile begun in the last post, David has been the best guide so far... smooth-rocks-from stream bed, but the search continues.

sling....moore
Glen