קַלָּע

קַלָּע

a slinger

Definition

קַלָּע (qallâʻ) refers specifically to a slinger, a soldier trained in using a sling as a weapon. This noun is an intensive form, indicating a skilled practitioner. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Kings 3:25, describing the military forces that besieged and destroyed the Moabite city of Kir-hareseth. The term denotes a specialized combat role within ancient Near Eastern armies, distinct from archers or spearmen.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only in 2 Kings 3:25, within the narrative of the campaign by the allied kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom against Moab. The context is military, listing the 'slingers' among the forces that surrounded and attacked the city, ultimately leaving only its stones intact. Its singular occurrence suggests it was a precise technical term for a specific type of warrior.

Etymology

Derived from the root קָלַע (qālaʻ, H7049), which means 'to sling' or 'to hurl.' The form קַלָּע is an intensive participle or agent noun, literally meaning 'one who slings' or 'a hurler.' This root is also seen in the noun קֶלַע (qelaʻ, H7050) for the 'sling' itself, as used by David against Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:40.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a technical military term, its connection to the root for 'sling' recalls the theme of God using seemingly weak or simple means to achieve victory, as exemplified by David's defeat of Goliath (1 Samuel 17). It subtly underscores that warfare, and by extension divine judgment or deliverance as depicted in 2 Kings 3, involves both human skill and divine sovereignty over the outcome of battles. In the ancient Near East, slingers were a standard component of armies, valued for their ability to attack from a distance with stones or clay pellets. They were often lightly armored and mobile. The description in 2 Kings 3:25 highlights the thoroughness of the siege—even specialized troops were deployed to ensure the city's destruction, reflecting the brutal realities of warfare in that era. קֶלַע (qelaʻ, H7050) — the sling (the weapon itself), not the person using it.

Word Details