Bludgeons
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Definition and Description:
A bludgeon is a short, heavy club with one end thicker or heavier than the other, often used as a weapon. In biblical times, such implements were typically made of wood or metal and were used for both warfare and personal defense. While the term "bludgeon" itself does not appear in the Bible, similar weapons are referenced, reflecting the historical and cultural context of ancient Near Eastern societies.

Biblical References and Context:
The Bible contains numerous references to weapons and tools that could be likened to bludgeons. These references often highlight the violence and conflict inherent in the human condition, as well as the need for protection and defense.

1. Judges 3:31 : "After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath. He struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad, and he too saved Israel." The oxgoad, a tool used for driving oxen, is a pointed stick that could be wielded as a weapon similar to a bludgeon. Shamgar's use of an oxgoad to defeat the Philistines demonstrates the versatility of everyday tools as weapons in times of necessity.

2. 1 Samuel 17:40 : "Then he 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." While David is more famously known for using a sling, the staff he carried could also serve as a bludgeon. Shepherds often used staffs for protection against wild animals, and they could be employed as weapons in combat.

3. Proverbs 25:18 : "Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor." This proverb uses the imagery of a club, akin to a bludgeon, to illustrate the destructive power of false testimony. The comparison underscores the harm that can be inflicted by deceitful words, equating it to physical violence.

Symbolism and Themes:
Bludgeons and similar weapons in the Bible often symbolize human conflict and the struggle for survival. They serve as reminders of the fallen nature of humanity and the prevalence of sin, which leads to violence and warfare. At the same time, these references highlight the need for divine intervention and protection, as seen in the deliverance of Israel through figures like Shamgar and David.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:
The use of bludgeons and other weapons in the Bible raises questions about the morality of violence and self-defense. While Scripture acknowledges the reality of conflict, it also calls believers to pursue peace and justice. Passages such as Romans 12:18 encourage Christians to "live at peace with everyone," emphasizing the importance of reconciliation and the avoidance of unnecessary violence.

Historical and Cultural Insights:
In ancient Israel and surrounding regions, weapons like bludgeons were common due to their simplicity and effectiveness. They were accessible to people of all social classes, from shepherds to warriors. Understanding the historical context of these weapons provides insight into the daily lives and struggles of biblical characters, as well as the broader narrative of God's redemptive plan for humanity.
Library

The Arrest.
... Person as a common felon,"coming upon Him thus in the dead of night, as if He were
one who never appeared in the daylight; coming with bludgeons and military ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/xvii the arrest.htm

Luther --A Stone on the Cairn
... attitude. Men fought then with bludgeons; they fight now with dainty polished
daggers, dipped in cold, colourless poison of sarcasm. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/luthera stone on the cairn.htm

Letter Lxxxviii. (AD 406. )
... Not contented with beating us with bludgeons and killing some with the sword, they
even, with incredible ingenuity in crime, throw lime mixed with acid [? ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter lxxxviii a d 406.htm

Against "The Roaring Lions"
... Meanwhile, the Circoncelliones, armed with their bludgeons, continued to pillage
and burn the farms. They tortured the owners to extract their money from them. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/iv against the roaring lions.htm

Sebastian Castellio: a Forgotten Prophet
... "I am," he cried out beneath the bludgeons, "a poor little man, more than simple,
humble and peaceable, with no desire for glory, only affirming what in my ...
/.../chapter vi sebastian castellio a.htm

Thesaurus
Bludgeons (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Bludgeons (2 Occurrences). Matthew 26:47 He had
scarcely finished speaking when Judas came--one of the ...
/b/bludgeons.htm - 7k

Fight (265 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:55 Then said Jesus to the crowds, "Have you come out as if to fight
with a robber, with swords and bludgeons to apprehend me? ...
/f/fight.htm - 38k

Finished (157 Occurrences)
... 26:47 He had scarcely finished speaking when Judas came--one of the Twelve--accompanied
by a great crowd of men armed with swords and bludgeons, sent by the ...
/f/finished.htm - 36k

Accompanied (43 Occurrences)
... 26:47 He had scarcely finished speaking when Judas came--one of the Twelve--accompanied
by a great crowd of men armed with swords and bludgeons, sent by the ...
/a/accompanied.htm - 19k

Apprehend (7 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Matthew 26:55 Then said Jesus to the crowds, "Have you come out as if to
fight with a robber, with swords and bludgeons to apprehend me? ...
/a/apprehend.htm - 10k

Armed (147 Occurrences)
... 26:47 He had scarcely finished speaking when Judas came--one of the Twelve--accompanied
by a great crowd of men armed with swords and bludgeons, sent by the ...
/a/armed.htm - 38k

Scarcely (14 Occurrences)
... 26:47 He had scarcely finished speaking when Judas came--one of the Twelve--accompanied
by a great crowd of men armed with swords and bludgeons, sent by the ...
/s/scarcely.htm - 10k

Sitting (201 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:55 Then said Jesus to the crowds, "Have you come out as if to fight
with a robber, with swords and bludgeons to apprehend me? ...
/s/sitting.htm - 40k

Sit (216 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:55 Then said Jesus to the crowds, "Have you come out as if to fight
with a robber, with swords and bludgeons to apprehend me? ...
/s/sit.htm - 39k

Crowd (166 Occurrences)
... 26:47 He had scarcely finished speaking when Judas came--one of the Twelve--accompanied
by a great crowd of men armed with swords and bludgeons, sent by the ...
/c/crowd.htm - 35k

Resources
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Concordance
Bludgeons (2 Occurrences)

Matthew 26:47
He had scarcely finished speaking when Judas came--one of the Twelve--accompanied by a great crowd of men armed with swords and bludgeons, sent by the High Priests and Elders of the People.
(WEY)

Matthew 26:55
Then said Jesus to the crowds, "Have you come out as if to fight with a robber, with swords and bludgeons to apprehend me? Day after day I have been sitting teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me.
(WEY)

Subtopics

Bludgeons

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Byssus (40 Occurrences)

Curious (18 Occurrences)

Craftsman (23 Occurrences)

Designer (12 Occurrences)

Stuff (49 Occurrences)

Skilfully (13 Occurrences)

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Scarlet (54 Occurrences)

Workman (22 Occurrences)

Violet (3 Occurrences)

Weaver (11 Occurrences)

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Colours (20 Occurrences)

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Peacock

Sapphire (11 Occurrences)

Embroidered (26 Occurrences)

Skillful (42 Occurrences)

Skilled (44 Occurrences)

Material (61 Occurrences)

Colors (12 Occurrences)

Ribbon (7 Occurrences)

Crimson (10 Occurrences)

Purple (54 Occurrences)

Thread (32 Occurrences)

Twisted (79 Occurrences)

Ephod (45 Occurrences)

Embroidery (12 Occurrences)

Cloth (57 Occurrences)

Woven (40 Occurrences)

Expert (59 Occurrences)

Nile (37 Occurrences)

Curtain (60 Occurrences)

Needle-work (7 Occurrences)

Waistband (15 Occurrences)

Workmanship (15 Occurrences)

Designs (118 Occurrences)

Porpoise (14 Occurrences)

Badgers (16 Occurrences)

Breastpiece (21 Occurrences)

Cows (33 Occurrences)

Skillfully (12 Occurrences)

Screen (26 Occurrences)

Doorway (221 Occurrences)

Dyeing

Skins (27 Occurrences)

Cord (47 Occurrences)

Breastplate (45 Occurrences)

Girdle (44 Occurrences)

Dye (1 Occurrence)

Cherubs (52 Occurrences)

Leather (34 Occurrences)

Fine (184 Occurrences)

Winged (69 Occurrences)

Curtains (34 Occurrences)

Badger (9 Occurrences)

Best (252 Occurrences)

Jabbok (7 Occurrences)

Goatskin (7 Occurrences)

Fabrics (4 Occurrences)

Fasten (28 Occurrences)

Mitre (10 Occurrences)

Plates (19 Occurrences)

Blueness (1 Occurrence)

Breast-plate (22 Occurrences)

Craftsmen (22 Occurrences)

Artificer (13 Occurrences)

Attach (12 Occurrences)

Colour (22 Occurrences)

Ornament (23 Occurrences)

Sealskin (8 Occurrences)

Selvedge (2 Occurrences)

Skirts (23 Occurrences)

Blows
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