875. Fiery Darts

By: James M. Freeman

Narrator: Chris Genthree

Duration: 1min

Ephesians 6:16 • 1 min. read • grade level: 7

Ephesians 6:16¹⁶Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Ephesians 6:16). The shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Some have thought that the allusion here is to poisoned arrows. See note on Job 6:4⁴For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. (Job 6:4) (#405). There were darts, however, sometimes used in ancient warfare that were literally “fiery.” They were hollow reeds filled with naphtha or some other combustible material, and, being set on fire, were shot from slack bows. Whatever the arrows struck, the flames consumed. Water served to increase their violence; they could only be extinguished by being covered with earth. Large shields were used by the soldiers against whom these “fiery darts” were thrown, and thus their persons were protected

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