Ancient uses of
In casting lots
Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the Lord. (Micah 2:5)
Fastening tents
The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords, (Exodus 35:18)
The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation, (Exodus 39:40)
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; (Isaiah 54:2)
Leading or binding animals
God is the Lord, which hath showed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. (Psalm 118:27)
I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. (Hosea 11:4)
Hitching to cart or plough
Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? (Job 39:10)
Binding prisoners
And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock. (Judges 15:13)
Measuring ground
And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts. (2 Samuel 8:2)
And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto? (Joshua 17:14)
He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. (Psalm 78:55)
Therefore thus saith the Lord; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land. (Amos 7:17)
I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. (Zechariah 2:1)
Worn on the head as a sign of submission
And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life. (1 Kings 20:31)
FIGURATIVE
Of spiritual blessings
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. (Psalm 16:6)
Of sin
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. (Proverbs 5:22)
Of life
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. (Ecclesiastes 12:6)
Of friendship
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. (Hosea 11:4)
SYMBOLICAL USES OF
Token in mourning
And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life. So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother. Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Ben-hadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Ben-hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot. (1 Kings 20:31-33)
And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; (Job 36:8)
Signifying an inheritance
And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto? (Joshua 17:14)