Jeremiah 46:3

THE ADVANCE OF EGYPT AT CARCHEMISH

"Prepare ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle. Harness the horses, and get up (mount) ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the coats of mail."

These words with their sharp, staccato commandments and brilliant descriptive power remind us of the glorying words in the prophecy of Nahum re: the overthrow of Nineveh.

"The buckler and shield ..." (Jeremiah 46:3). The buckler was used by the lightly armed infantry, and the shield was handled by the heavier ranks of the soldiery who were generally the stronger of the two.[9]

"Put on the coats of mail ..." (Jeremiah 46:4). Those who are familiar with the KJV cannot fall to be astounded at a switch like this, for the KJV renders this passage, "Put on the brigandines!" Well, it happened like this. The word "brigandines" actually means "coats of mail," worn by soldiers, and in time came to mean "soldiers"; and the conduct of many soldiers throughout history gradually changed the meaning of "brigandines" to "rogues" or "scoundrels." The current word "brigand" derives from it and means "a robber" or a "bandit," especially, "one of a band of plundering outlaws or soldiers." This connection also resulted in such a title as Brigadier General, meaning the commander of a brigade! This appears to this writer as an item of intense interest.