Footman
(1) Distinguished from the soldier on horseback or in a chariot. (2) The swift runners who attended the king; foretold by Samuel 1Sa 8:11 (1Ki 14:27 margin). Swift running was much valued in a warrior (Psa 19:5; Joe 2:7; Job 16:14). A characteristic of David, for which he praises God (1Sa 17:22; 1Sa 17:48; 1Sa 17:51; 1Sa 20:6; 2Sa 22:30; Psa 18:29; compare 1Ch 12:8 to end).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Footman
Footman foot'-man. ⇒See a list of verses on FOOTMAN in the Bible. See WAR. ⇒See the definition of foot in the KJV Dictionary ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Footman
This word is used in two different senses : 1. A foot-soldier, always in plu. 'footmen,' foot-soldiers, infantry. The Heb. is either '^jT ragli (always sing, except Jer 12', where the mean- ing is, however, not foot-soldiers but foot-runners ; see below), or more fully '^^"3 »'> • ^ 7=» 9', 2 Mac ll-" I3-), but we also find avSph 1 Mac 9^ 6.\ayi I Mac 10*^, Swi- yueis 1 Mao 12«, and Trefiicol («> -r)) 1 Mac 16'. Foot- men probably composed the whole of the Isr. forces (1 S 4" 15^) before the time of David. From Solomon's day onwards Israel certainly possessed also chariots and cavalry (1 K 4^ EV). See Army. The Eng. word is used freely in old writers in this sense, as Malory, Morte Darthur, I. ix. ' And when he came to the sea he sent home the footmen again, and took no more with him but ten thousand men on horseback ' ; I. xiv. ' ever in saving of one of the footmen we lose ten horse- men for nim.' 2. A rimner on foot : 1 S 22" ' And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him. Turn, and slay the priests of the LOKD ' (D'xt razim ; AVm 'or guard, Heb. runners'; RV 'guard,' R…
Smith's Bible Dictionary on Footman
a word employed in the English Bible in two senses: Generally, to distinguish those of the fighting men who went on foot from those who were on horseback or in chariots; In a more special sense, in (1 Samuel 22:17) only, and as the translation of a different term from the above—a body of swift runners in attendance on the king. This body appears to have been afterwards kept up, and to have been distinct from the body-guard—the six hundred and thirty— who were originated by David. See (1 Kings 14:27,28; 2 Kings 11:4,6,11,13,19; 2 Chronicles 12:10,11) In each of these cases the word is the same as the above, and is rendered “guard,” with “runners” in the margin in two instances - (1 Kings 14:27; 2 Kings 11:13)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia