Chain
The Bible frequently refers to chains, and uses a great variety of words to describe the dilierent articles and their uses. Chains were chiefly employed for (1) ornament, (2) restraint. 1. Urnnment. — 1. 'I'here was the more solid form of simple or twisted rinjj for the neck (t;i from ij"! ; cf. Arab, rabnt, ' to bind '). Such was Josephs gold chain (Gn 41''-), al.so Ezk 16". The Maronite Christians of Lebanon regard it as a charm against evil spirits, or the evil eye (see Amulet). It is called a ("ii/c, and in the mod. Arab, version of the IJible by Van Dyck the ouch of the lii'-li priest's dress is so translated. This chain may be of gold or silver, but the poorer classes, as the Bedawin, wear chains of copper or brass. 2. There was a more elaborate form, made of plaited wire, like (1), but with jewels inserted and pendants attached, or. instead of the metal twist, composed of .separate parts in squares, balls, or links (corrcsp. to Arab. ^ilAdat, 'i(pd). It did not encircle the neck closely, 368 CHALCEDONY CHALDEE VERSIO:;S &^ like the tauk, but hung loosely from it. The cliain of Dn 5'- '"■ ^ was probably of this order, and examples of it are found in Jg 8^, Ps 73", Ca 4', Pr 1. It is customary in Syria to hang a crescent of silver, called the hiUd, by a hair rope or chain round the necks of valuable camels or horses (cf. Jg 8'-'-''). 3. The flexible chain (n-iijhi?, Arab, silsilah, 'link-chain') for suspending and festooning pur- joses (Ex 28'^-'>' 39", 1 K 7", 2 Ch 3>- "). 4. In Nu 31'» KV ' ankle-chain ' (which see). 5. In Ca l'» (mn, Arab, haraz) RV ' strings of jewels' means a necklace of eeras, beads, or shells strung on a thread. B. In Is 3'" (niiai, Arab, nutafah) KV ' pendants ' means ear-drops, in design like a pearl or drop of water. 2. Restraint. — Named from the metal, copper (rii'n;), La 3'. In Jer 39' 52" chain is transl. fetters (see Fetter) ; also in AV in Jg 16-', 2 S 3, 2 K 25', 2 Ch 33" 36«. Chain in Ps 68« is corrected in KV to ' prosperity ' (.ti^^id). In NT the references to chains for restraint present little difficulty. The chief terms are &\vns, Mk 5^ Ac 28-», 2 Ti V\ Rev 20' : aupd in 2 P 2 ' chains of darkness ' ; Se<Tii6$ in Jude • 'everlasting chains,' which be- comes a fig. ' bond ' in Lk 13". Modem brass was unkno\vn in ancient times, but there was an alloy of copper and tin. The feet of prisoners were secured by a chain of copper (nj'nj, Arab, sildsil nahds, tt^Stj) attached to copper rings encircling each ankle, which were widened to receive the ankle, and then closed by a few strokes of a hammer. For the sake of safe custody, as the soft copper rings might be opened, the prisoner's eyes were put out (2 K 25'). In NT mention is made of the Roman custom of securing a prisoner by a chain, one end being fastened to the prisoner's wrist and the other to that of the soldier who guarded him (Ac 12« 28*'). W. Caeslaw.