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Hanging

Easton's Bible Dictionary

1

(as a punishment), a mark of infamy inflicted on the dead bodies of criminals (Deut 21:23) rather than our modern mode of punishment. Criminals were first strangled and then hanged (Num 25:4; Deut 21:22). (See 2 Sam 21:6 for the practice of the Gibeonites.)

Hanging (as a curtain).

2

Heb. masak, (a) before the entrance to the court of the tabernacle (Exod 35:17); (b) before the door of the tabernacle (26:36, 37); (c) before the entrance to the most holy place, called “the veil of the covering” (35:12; 39:34), as the word properly means.

3

Heb. kelaim, tapestry covering the walls of the tabernacle (Exod 27:9; 35:17; Num 3:26) to the half of the height of the wall (Exod 27:18; comp. 26:16). These hangings were fastened to pillars.

4

Heb. bottim (2 Kgs 23:7), “hangings for the grove” (R.V., “for the Asherah”); marg., instead of “hangings,” has “tents” or “houses.” Such curtained structures for idolatrous worship are also alluded to in Ezek 16:16.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hang'-ing (talah, "to hang up," "suspend," 2 Sam 21:12; Deut 28:66; Job 26:7; Ps 137:2; Song 4:4; Hos 11:7): Generally, where the word is used in connection with punishments, it appears to have reference to the hanging of the corpse after execution. We find but two clear instances of death by hanging, i.e. strangulation--those of Ahithophel and Judas ((2 Sam 17:23; Matt 27:5), and both these were eases of suicide, not of execution. The foregoing Hebrew word is clearly used for "hanging" as a mode of execution in Esth 5:14; Esth 6:4; Esth 7:9 ff; 8:7; 9:13,14,25; but probably the "gallows" or "tree" ('ets) was a stake for the purpose of impaling the victim. It could be lowered for this purpose, then raised "fifty cubits high" to arrest the public gaze. The Greek word used in Matt 27:5 is apagchesthai, "to strangle oneself." See HDB, article "Hanging," for an exhaustive discussion.

Frank E. Hirsch

Kilde: Easton's Bible Dictionary (M.G. Easton, 1897) og International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (red. James Orr, 1915/1939), public domain. Translated into Danish with AI and not yet proofread (fully or partially). Links to people and places: Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0).