Isai. v. 1.HORNS. The Hebrews by the word Horns sometimes understood an eminence, an angle, a corner; Vinea facta est dilecto meo in cornu filio olei: my beloved has a vineyard situated on an Eminence, or on the corner of a rich and fertile Mountain. By the Horns of the Altar of Burnt-offerings, Exod. xxvii. 2. xxx. 2.many understand the Angles of this Altar; but it is certain that there were besides Horns or Eminences at the four corners of the Altar, to which were fastened four chains that the grate belonging to the Altar hung by.
Exodus xxxiv. 29. 1 Sam. ii. 1, 10.Horn signifies likewise glory, brightness, rays; for example, it is said, that Moses’s face was encompassed with Horns, that is to say, it was radiant, that as it were Horns of light issued from it. And in other places it is said, Mine Horn is exalted in the Lord. He hath exalted the Horn of his anointed: that is to say, he hath loaded me with honour; he hath advanced the Glory of his King or Priest. Lift not up your horn Psal. lxxv. 5, 6.on high, says the Psalmist; do not boast yourselves. His Horn shall be exalted with honour; he shall be loaded with honours, &c. 1 Sam. xvi. 1.As the Ancients frequently made use of Horns to hold liquors, the vessels wherein oil was put, and perfumes, are called often Horns, whether they really were of horn, or of any other matter. Fill thine Horn with oil, says the Lord to Samuel, and go, anoint David King. The High-Priest 1 Kings i. 39. Job xlii. 14.Zadok took an horn of oil out of the Tabernacle, and with it anointed Solomon. Job called one of his daughters by the name of Horn of Antimony, Cornu stibii, or Horn to put Antimony in, which the women of the East still make use of at this day.
The principal defence and greatest strength of horned beasts consists in their Horns; and the Scripture mentions the Horn as the symbol of strength. The Lord Psalm cxxxii. 17. Eccl. xlvii. 6. Eccl. xlvii. 8. Jer. xlviii. 25. Lament. ii. 3. Ezek. xxix. 21. Deut. xxxiii. 17.exalteth the Horn of David; the Horn of his People; he breaketh the Horn of the Ungodly: he cutteth off the Horn of Moab, he cutteth off in his fierce anger all the Horn of Israel; he promises to make the Horn of Israel bud forth; to re-establish the honour of it, and restore it to its former vigour. Moses compares Joseph to a young bull, and says, that he has Horns like those of a Rhinoceros. The sacred Authors frequently express victory in words like these following: Thou shalt toss them Psal. xliv. 6. Ezek. xxxii. 2. xxxiv. 21, &c.into the air with Horns; thou shalt disperse them as a Bull disperses every thing that comes before him with his Horns.
Kingdoms and great Powers are often described by the word Horns. It is thus Daniel represents the power of the Persians, of the Greeks, of Syria, and Egypt. 1 Macc. vii. 46. Dan. vii. viii.He figures to us Darius and Alexander like a Goat and a Ram running violently at each other with their Horns: and Antiochus Epiphanes as an Horn which utters blasphemies, and makes war with the Saints. In these passages, the Prophet represents these animals to us as having many Horns, one whereof grew from the other; which should not surprize us, since in Barbary and the Isle of Cyprus there are Rams to be seen still at this day which have many Horns. In Daniel they are mysterious; but the mystery is founded upon a particular which sometimes happens in nature.
In the first book of the Maccabees, ix. 1, 12, 16, the right and left wings of an army are called the right and left Horn. And in Habakkuk it is said, that the Lord cometh from Paran all encompassed with glory and majesty, having Horns in his hands; that is to say, having his hands armed with flaming darts, and fiery arrows. In profane Authors darts and arrows are sometimes called Horns, because formerly they were armed with Horns. Several people fastened Horns to the end of their darts, and the Centaur Dorylas was provided with the two Horns of an Ox, instead of javelins.
Ovid. Metam. l. 12.Sævique vicem præstantia teli Cornua dura boum multo madefacta cruore.