engines Summary and Overview
Bible Dictionaries at a Glance
engines in Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) Heb. hishalon i.e., "invention" (as in Eccl. 7:29) contrivances indicating ingenuity. In 2 Chr. 26:15 it refers to inventions for the purpose of propelling missiles from the walls of a town, such as stones (the Roman balista) and arrows (the catapulta). (2.) Heb. mechi kobollo, i.e., the beating of that which is in front a battering-ram (Ezek. 26:9), the use of which was common among the Egyptians and the Assyrians. Such an engine is mentioned in the reign of David (2 Sam. 20:15).
engines in Schaff's Bible Dictionary
EN'GINES . See War.
engines in Fausset's Bible Dictionary
Military, "invented by cunning men" under Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:15); propelling missiles, stones, and arrows. The monuments of Egyptian and Assyrian warfare have no representations of such engines. Thus Scripture is confirmed, that the invention was in Judah under Uzziah. Pliny (7:56) assigns it to Syria. Ezekiel (Ezekiel 26:9) alludes to battering rams, mehhi qaballo, "a striking of that which is in front," whether with a battering ram, or balista, or catapult; "he shall set an apparatus for striking against thy walls"; also Ezekiel 21:22; Ezekiel 4:2, karim, translated "captains" in Ezekiel 21:22, where see margin.