Sling

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 5
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Crotched sling made in Peru.
A simple weapon with which stones were thrown. It could easily be formed of a piece of leather with a small hole in the center, and having two strings attached. A stone was placed in the hole in the leather, and swung round forcibly, when, by releasing one of the strings, the stone would fly away. It was used by shepherds to keep off such animals as wolves; David had one with which he smote Goliath. We read of some who were so skilled in its use as to throw a stone to a hair’s breadth. It is mentioned among the weapons of war (Judg. 20:1616Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss. (Judges 20:16); 1 Sam. 17:40,5040And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. (1 Samuel 17:40)
50So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. (1 Samuel 17:50); 2 Kings 3:2525And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kir-haraseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it. (2 Kings 3:25); 2 Chron. 26:1414And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones. (2 Chronicles 26:14)). On the Egyptian monuments men are portrayed using the sling.
 
Shepherd Boy Slinging