Arsenal

1 Macc. xiv. 2, 3.ARSENAL, Arsenals. The ancient Hebrews had every one their own arms, because they all went to the wars: they had no Arsenals, nor Magazines of Arms, because they had no regular troops, nor soldiers in pay. There were no Arsenals in Israel till the reigns of David and Solomon. David had made a large collection of arms, and consecrated them to the Lord in his Tabernacle. The High-Priest Jehoiada took them out of the treasury of the Temple, to arm the People and Levites upon the 2 Chron. xxiii. 9.day of the young King Joash’s Elevation to the Throne. Solomon laid up a great quantity of good arms in his Palace called the Ch. ix. 16. Ch. xi. 12.Forest of Lebanon, and had well provided Arsenals in all the Cities of Judah, which he had fortified. He sometimes laid an obligation upon the conquered and tributary People, to forge Arms for him. King 1 Kings x. 25.Uzziah not only furnished his Arsenals with spears, helmets, shields, cuirasses, swords, bows, and slings, but lodged such machines there also, as were proper for forming and carrying on Sieges. Hezekiah 2 Chron. xxvi. 14. 2 Chron. xxxii. 27. Isa. xxii. 8.had the same precaution, he made stores of Arms of all sorts. Jonathan and Simon Maccabæus, had Arsenals stored with good Arms, not only such as had been taken from the enemy, but with others which they had purchased, or appointed to be forged for them.

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