Sling

A weapon with two strings and a pouch in the middle used to throw stones for hunting or fighting.

A sling with rounded sling stones (Assyrian Gallery, British Museum)
A sling with rounded sling stones (Assyrian Gallery, British Museum) (Gary Todd, worldhistorypics.weebly.com, CC0) Sling

About Sling

Weapon of war used to fire stones or lead pellets, and the thrower. See Armor and Weapons.

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The object itself Article

Form, use in ancient daily life, and how translators render the term.

Key References

Judges 20:16

Among all these soldiers there were 700 select left-handers, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair without missing.

1 Samuel 17:40

And David took his staff in his hand, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag. And with his sling in hand, he approached the Philistine.

2 Chronicles 26:14

Uzziah supplied the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and slingstones.

All Scripture References (11)

Judges (1)
Judges 20:16

Among all these soldiers there were 700 select left-handers, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair without missing.

1 Samuel (4)
1 Samuel 17:40

And David took his staff in his hand, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag. And with his sling in hand, he approached the Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:49

Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

1 Samuel 17:50

Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

1 Samuel 25:29

And should someone pursue you and seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound securely by the LORD your God in the bundle of the living. But He shall fling away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling.

2 Kings (1)
2 Kings 3:25

They destroyed the cities, and each man threw stones on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up every spring and cut down every good tree. Only Kir-haraseth was left with stones in place, but men with slings surrounded it and attacked it as well.

2 Chronicles (1)
2 Chronicles 26:14

Uzziah supplied the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and slingstones.

Job (1)
Job 41:20

Smoke billows from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.

Proverbs (1)
Proverbs 26:8

Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.

Jeremiah (1)
Jeremiah 10:18

For this is what the LORD says: “Behold, at this time I will sling out the inhabitants of the land and bring distress upon them so that they may be captured.”

Zechariah (1)
Zechariah 9:15

The LORD of Hosts will shield them. They will destroy and conquer with slingstones; they will drink and roar as with wine. And they will be filled like sprinkling bowls, drenched like the corners of the altar.