Salaam Alaikum everyone.
One of the things that the Quran claims that God taught David to make, was coats of mail, from iron.
34:10,11
And We certainly gave David from Us bounty. [We said], "O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well]." And We made pliable for him iron,
[Commanding him], "Make full coats of mail and calculate [precisely] the links, and work [all of you] righteousness. Indeed I, of what you do, am Seeing."
However, the type of mail armour the Quran describes was not invented until between the 3rd and 4th century BC. Its inventors were not Israelites, but Celts. It was not invented in the middle east, but in Europe.
The Romans learned about this, and then began making their own chain mail. They spread it to the middle east around the first century AD.
Mail was originally thought to have originated in the Celtic regions of Europe around the beginning of the 4th century BC. This was confirmed by Roman authors who also believed that the Celts invented mail. Strabo refers to mail as Gallic, and Varro suggests that the Romans adopted it from the Gauls [de Lingua Latina, V, 24, 116].10 One of the earliest examples was found at Ciumesti in modern Romania. The wire used to make the links was between 0.8mm and 1.8mm thick and each link had an outside diameter (O.D.) between 8.5mm and 9.2mm (corrosion is likely to have distorted these figures).11 However, the Ciumesti find has recently been re-dated to the 3rd century BC and is no longer the oldest example.12 A find from a burial of Horny Jatov in Slovakia has been dated to the first half of the 3rd century BC, which makes it earlier than Ciumesti and currently the earliest confirmed example of mail armour. An earlier example was allegedly found at the Hjortspring boat bog sacrifice and dated to the 4th century BC, but later work suggests that the find was not armour at all but natural deposits of iron that form around plant roots in bogs.13 The earliest Celtic example of mail was found at Vielle-Tursan in Aubagnan has been dated to the beginning of the 2nd century BC. A find at Tiefenau, Switzerland, is another 2nd century example of Celtic mail.14 Celtic statues found in Southern France are also likely to depict mailed warriors and date slightly earlier, to the end of the 3rd century BC.
There are mentions of "mail" in texts dating even earlier, but most of them can be discredited as inaccurate translations. As already discussed, "mail" was commonly used by Victorian scholars to describe many types of metal armour, including scale and plate. One well-known example is the Biblical description of Goliath wearing a coat of mail weighing 5,000 shekels of bronze [Samuel, 17.5-6]. The use of the word in this instance was not meant to be specifically referring to "true" (4-in-1) mail but as a general term to describe armourin this case, bronze scale armour. Another example is the use of the word "mail" by Austen Henry Layard to describe the Assyrian armour he found at Nineveh. However, he later identifies the armour in more detail and confirms that he is describing scale armour, not mail:
The Arabs employed in removing the rubbish from the chamber with the kneeling winged figures, discovered a quantity of iron, in which I soon recognized the scales of the armour represented on the sculptures. These scales were from two to three inches in length, rounded at one end, and square at the other, with a raised or embossed line in the centre, and had probably been fastened to a vest of linen or felt.15
When the inaccurate translations are discounted, there is still one plausible reference dating back to the time of King David (10th century BC). According to Niese16, in Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus recounts an incident in which David is confronted by a Philistine wearing a thôraka halusidôton [5.7.299], which Liddell and Scott16a translate as "armour wrought in chain fashion." At first glance this seems to be a credible source, but it should be remembered that Josephus was writing around nine hundred years after the event in question. It is likely that the oral tradition upon which his work ultimately relied would have changed during those intervening nine centuries. It is also possible that he confused armour worn during his own time with that worn during the time of David. He may even have done this deliberately in order to make his work more accessible to his Gentile audience. Without some supporting evidence, it is impossible to determine whether mail was in use that early. The physical evidence only dates to the 3rd century BC.
Given the available evidence it seems that mail first originated in central Europe in the 3rd century BC and was quickly adopted first by the Celts and then the Romans. Since mail would have been very expensive to make, it is likely that its early use was restricted to the aristocracyeven in Rome. Bishop and Coulston wrote that "before the 1st century BC body armour was very closely linked with social status and wealth."16b
Mail: Unchained -- myArmoury.com
The Assyrians in the 8th century BC did have armour that is called mail by some, but it was comprised of metal plates that were sewn on to the tunics of the warriors.
The Assyrian i-rr-rro-ro&~qs was not, however,
the ultimate weapon. Despite his superior
mobility the unprotected rider was still vulnerable to attack from
infantry archers.
Moreover, in encounters with other mounted archers-e.g.
in the nomadic armies-the Assyrians would
not enjoy any advantage.
Thus, to protect their mounted archers and to maintain
tactical superiority the Assyrians introduced and gradually developed cavalry armour.
Evidence of this innovation is found first in the sculptures of Tiglath-Pileser I11(745-727) from Nimrud, which depict a rider wearing a mail shirt constructed of metal plates sewn on to a tunic (pl. IX, I)
http://www.themailresearchsociety.erikds.com/pdf/tmrs_pdf_15.pdf
In contrast, 34:11 makes it clear that the coat of mail was comprised of iron links that were joined together.
As tafsirs by Ibn Qathir and Yusuf Ali show, what the Quran's author is describing is chain mail, comprised of iron chain links which were made to fit each other, to make a coat.
10. We bestowed Grace aforetime on David from Ourselves:
C3799. Cf. 21:79-80, and notes 2733-34.
David had the gift of song and sacred music, and this is shown in his Psalms.
All nature-hills and birds-sing and echo back the Praises of Allah.
"O ye Mountains! sing ye back the Praises of Allah with him!
and ye birds (also)!
and We made the iron soft for Him --
C3800. Iron or steel is hard stuff: but in the hands of a craftsman it becomes soft and pliable, and with it can be made instruments for the defence of righteousness.
These, in the literal sense, are coats of mail, and defensive armour, and the manufacture of them is traditionally attributed to David. (R).
11. (Commanding),
"Make thou coats of mail, balancing well the rings of chain armor,
C3801. Coats of chain armour have to be made with cunning art, if the chains are to fit into each other and the whole garment is to be worn in comfort in fierce warfare.
Quran Arabic Surah (Sura) Saba' with English Translation & Commentary (Tafsir) by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Recitation By Said Al Ghamdi MP3, Free Download
Tafsir Ibn Qathir
And We made the iron soft for him. Al-Hلasan Al-Basلri, Qata0dah, Al-A mash and others said, He did not need to heat it in the fire or beat it with a hammer؛ he could simply twist it in his hands, like a thread. Alla0h said:
﴿أَنِ اعْمَلْ سَـبِغَـتٍ﴾
Saying: Make you perfect coats of mail... , which means chain mail. Qata0dah said, He was the first person ever to make chain mail؛ before that, they used to wear plated armor.
﴿وَقَدِّرْ فِى السَّرْدِ﴾
(and balance well the rings of chain armor ﴿Sard﴾,) This is how Allah taught His Prophet Dawud, peace be upon him, to make coats of mail. Mujahid said concerning the Ayah:
﴿وَقَدِّرْ فِى السَّرْدِ﴾
(and balance well the rings of chain armor ﴿Sard﴾,) "Do not make the rivets too loose that the rings (of chain mail) will shake, or make them too tight that they will not be able to move at all, but make it just right.'' `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that `Ibn `Abbas said, "Sard refers to a ring of iron.'' Some of them said, "Chain mail is called Masrud if it is held together with rivets.''
Quran Tafsir Ibn Kathir - The Favors which Allah bestowed upon Dawud
Tafsir Al Jalalayn
And verily We bestowed on David a [great] favour from Us prophethood and scripture and We said: O mountains, repeat with him [in praise], by making glorifications, and the birds [too]! (read wal-tayra in the accusative as a supplement to the [syntactical] locus of jibāl, mountains, in other words, and We also called on them to glorify [God] with him). And We made iron malleable for him, so that it was as dough in his hands.
And We said: Fashion, from it, long coats of mail complete suits of armour which the person wearing it drags behind him along the ground and measure [well] the links, that is, in the weaving of the coats (the maker of these is called sarrād). In other words, make them so that the rings thereof are arranged properly. And act, O family of David, together with him, righteously. Indeed I am Seer of what you do, and will requite you for it accordingly.
http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=34&tAyahNo=11&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2
The Quran claims that God taught David to make chain mail. However, the fact is that this technology was not invented until some 700 years after his death.
One of the things that the Quran claims that God taught David to make, was coats of mail, from iron.
34:10,11
And We certainly gave David from Us bounty. [We said], "O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well]." And We made pliable for him iron,
[Commanding him], "Make full coats of mail and calculate [precisely] the links, and work [all of you] righteousness. Indeed I, of what you do, am Seeing."
However, the type of mail armour the Quran describes was not invented until between the 3rd and 4th century BC. Its inventors were not Israelites, but Celts. It was not invented in the middle east, but in Europe.
The Romans learned about this, and then began making their own chain mail. They spread it to the middle east around the first century AD.
Mail was originally thought to have originated in the Celtic regions of Europe around the beginning of the 4th century BC. This was confirmed by Roman authors who also believed that the Celts invented mail. Strabo refers to mail as Gallic, and Varro suggests that the Romans adopted it from the Gauls [de Lingua Latina, V, 24, 116].10 One of the earliest examples was found at Ciumesti in modern Romania. The wire used to make the links was between 0.8mm and 1.8mm thick and each link had an outside diameter (O.D.) between 8.5mm and 9.2mm (corrosion is likely to have distorted these figures).11 However, the Ciumesti find has recently been re-dated to the 3rd century BC and is no longer the oldest example.12 A find from a burial of Horny Jatov in Slovakia has been dated to the first half of the 3rd century BC, which makes it earlier than Ciumesti and currently the earliest confirmed example of mail armour. An earlier example was allegedly found at the Hjortspring boat bog sacrifice and dated to the 4th century BC, but later work suggests that the find was not armour at all but natural deposits of iron that form around plant roots in bogs.13 The earliest Celtic example of mail was found at Vielle-Tursan in Aubagnan has been dated to the beginning of the 2nd century BC. A find at Tiefenau, Switzerland, is another 2nd century example of Celtic mail.14 Celtic statues found in Southern France are also likely to depict mailed warriors and date slightly earlier, to the end of the 3rd century BC.
There are mentions of "mail" in texts dating even earlier, but most of them can be discredited as inaccurate translations. As already discussed, "mail" was commonly used by Victorian scholars to describe many types of metal armour, including scale and plate. One well-known example is the Biblical description of Goliath wearing a coat of mail weighing 5,000 shekels of bronze [Samuel, 17.5-6]. The use of the word in this instance was not meant to be specifically referring to "true" (4-in-1) mail but as a general term to describe armourin this case, bronze scale armour. Another example is the use of the word "mail" by Austen Henry Layard to describe the Assyrian armour he found at Nineveh. However, he later identifies the armour in more detail and confirms that he is describing scale armour, not mail:
The Arabs employed in removing the rubbish from the chamber with the kneeling winged figures, discovered a quantity of iron, in which I soon recognized the scales of the armour represented on the sculptures. These scales were from two to three inches in length, rounded at one end, and square at the other, with a raised or embossed line in the centre, and had probably been fastened to a vest of linen or felt.15
When the inaccurate translations are discounted, there is still one plausible reference dating back to the time of King David (10th century BC). According to Niese16, in Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus recounts an incident in which David is confronted by a Philistine wearing a thôraka halusidôton [5.7.299], which Liddell and Scott16a translate as "armour wrought in chain fashion." At first glance this seems to be a credible source, but it should be remembered that Josephus was writing around nine hundred years after the event in question. It is likely that the oral tradition upon which his work ultimately relied would have changed during those intervening nine centuries. It is also possible that he confused armour worn during his own time with that worn during the time of David. He may even have done this deliberately in order to make his work more accessible to his Gentile audience. Without some supporting evidence, it is impossible to determine whether mail was in use that early. The physical evidence only dates to the 3rd century BC.
Given the available evidence it seems that mail first originated in central Europe in the 3rd century BC and was quickly adopted first by the Celts and then the Romans. Since mail would have been very expensive to make, it is likely that its early use was restricted to the aristocracyeven in Rome. Bishop and Coulston wrote that "before the 1st century BC body armour was very closely linked with social status and wealth."16b
Mail: Unchained -- myArmoury.com
The Assyrians in the 8th century BC did have armour that is called mail by some, but it was comprised of metal plates that were sewn on to the tunics of the warriors.
The Assyrian i-rr-rro-ro&~qs was not, however,
the ultimate weapon. Despite his superior
mobility the unprotected rider was still vulnerable to attack from
infantry archers.
Moreover, in encounters with other mounted archers-e.g.
in the nomadic armies-the Assyrians would
not enjoy any advantage.
Thus, to protect their mounted archers and to maintain
tactical superiority the Assyrians introduced and gradually developed cavalry armour.
Evidence of this innovation is found first in the sculptures of Tiglath-Pileser I11(745-727) from Nimrud, which depict a rider wearing a mail shirt constructed of metal plates sewn on to a tunic (pl. IX, I)
http://www.themailresearchsociety.erikds.com/pdf/tmrs_pdf_15.pdf
In contrast, 34:11 makes it clear that the coat of mail was comprised of iron links that were joined together.
As tafsirs by Ibn Qathir and Yusuf Ali show, what the Quran's author is describing is chain mail, comprised of iron chain links which were made to fit each other, to make a coat.
10. We bestowed Grace aforetime on David from Ourselves:
C3799. Cf. 21:79-80, and notes 2733-34.
David had the gift of song and sacred music, and this is shown in his Psalms.
All nature-hills and birds-sing and echo back the Praises of Allah.
... يَا جِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُ وَالطَّيْرَ...
and ye birds (also)!
... وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ الْحَدِيدَ ﴿١٠﴾
C3800. Iron or steel is hard stuff: but in the hands of a craftsman it becomes soft and pliable, and with it can be made instruments for the defence of righteousness.
These, in the literal sense, are coats of mail, and defensive armour, and the manufacture of them is traditionally attributed to David. (R).
أَنِ اعْمَلْ سَابِغَاتٍ وَقَدِّرْ فِي السَّرْدِ...
"Make thou coats of mail, balancing well the rings of chain armor,
C3801. Coats of chain armour have to be made with cunning art, if the chains are to fit into each other and the whole garment is to be worn in comfort in fierce warfare.
Quran Arabic Surah (Sura) Saba' with English Translation & Commentary (Tafsir) by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Recitation By Said Al Ghamdi MP3, Free Download
Tafsir Ibn Qathir
And We made the iron soft for him. Al-Hلasan Al-Basلri, Qata0dah, Al-A mash and others said, He did not need to heat it in the fire or beat it with a hammer؛ he could simply twist it in his hands, like a thread. Alla0h said:
﴿أَنِ اعْمَلْ سَـبِغَـتٍ﴾
Saying: Make you perfect coats of mail... , which means chain mail. Qata0dah said, He was the first person ever to make chain mail؛ before that, they used to wear plated armor.
﴿وَقَدِّرْ فِى السَّرْدِ﴾
(and balance well the rings of chain armor ﴿Sard﴾,) This is how Allah taught His Prophet Dawud, peace be upon him, to make coats of mail. Mujahid said concerning the Ayah:
﴿وَقَدِّرْ فِى السَّرْدِ﴾
(and balance well the rings of chain armor ﴿Sard﴾,) "Do not make the rivets too loose that the rings (of chain mail) will shake, or make them too tight that they will not be able to move at all, but make it just right.'' `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that `Ibn `Abbas said, "Sard refers to a ring of iron.'' Some of them said, "Chain mail is called Masrud if it is held together with rivets.''
Quran Tafsir Ibn Kathir - The Favors which Allah bestowed upon Dawud
Tafsir Al Jalalayn
And verily We bestowed on David a [great] favour from Us prophethood and scripture and We said: O mountains, repeat with him [in praise], by making glorifications, and the birds [too]! (read wal-tayra in the accusative as a supplement to the [syntactical] locus of jibāl, mountains, in other words, and We also called on them to glorify [God] with him). And We made iron malleable for him, so that it was as dough in his hands.
And We said: Fashion, from it, long coats of mail complete suits of armour which the person wearing it drags behind him along the ground and measure [well] the links, that is, in the weaving of the coats (the maker of these is called sarrād). In other words, make them so that the rings thereof are arranged properly. And act, O family of David, together with him, righteously. Indeed I am Seer of what you do, and will requite you for it accordingly.
http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=34&tAyahNo=11&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2
The Quran claims that God taught David to make chain mail. However, the fact is that this technology was not invented until some 700 years after his death.
