| Word | American Tract Society - Definition |
| CAPTIVES | Taken in war, seem anciently to have been looked upon as justly liable to death, and hence to any treatment less dreadful than death. Their necks were trodden upon, Jos 10:24, in token of abject subjection, which illustrates Ps 110:1. They were sold into servitude, like Joseph. They were mutilated, like Samson, or Adonizedek. They were stripped of all clothing, and driven in crowds to adorn the victor's triumph. Large numbers of them were selected, often by a measuring line, 2Sa 8:2, and slain, 2Ch 25:12. This was sometimes done with designed cruelty, 2Sa 12:31 1Ch 20:3. The Romans in some cases bound a living captive to a dead body, and left them to perish together; a practice which may be applied to illustrate the apostle's cry, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Ro 7:24. |