- cohortsnounChapter 1 →
Divisions or battalions of an army; here used to mean the large organized groups of soldiers that made up Sennacherib's military force.
“And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold.”
- gleamingverbChapter 1 →
Shining with a bright, steady light; here describing the dazzling glitter of the soldiers' armor and weapons catching the light.
“And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold.”
- foldnounChapter 1 →
An enclosed pen or fenced area where sheep are kept at night for safety; used here to set up the image of a defenseless flock being attacked by a predator.
“The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold.”
- sheennounChapter 1 →
A soft, bright glow or luster on a surface; here describing the brilliant reflected light from the spears of the Assyrian soldiers.
- lancesnounChapter 1 →
Long wooden spears with a pointed metal tip, carried by soldiers on horseback as weapons of war.
- galleynounChapter 1 →
A large, low warship powered by oars, used in ancient and medieval times; here the reference evokes the sea-foam imagery comparing the gleam of spears to stars on ocean waves.
- blastnounChapter 1 →
A strong, sudden rush of wind; here it refers to the deadly breath or gust through which the Angel of Death moved as it swept through the Assyrian camp.
“For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast.”
- foenounChapter 1 →
An enemy in battle; here referring to the Assyrian soldiers who were the opponents of Jerusalem and, by extension, of God.
“And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed.”
- distortedadjectiveChapter 1 →
Twisted or contorted out of a normal shape; here describing the unnatural, frozen expressions on the faces of the dead Assyrian soldiers found at dawn.
- foamnounChapter 1 →
The white frothy bubbles formed on the surface of a liquid; here used to describe the lather on the horses' mouths, showing they had been active but now stand eerily still.
- wealnounChapter 1 →
Prosperity, well-being, or good fortune of a community; here used in contrast with the sudden ruin that has overtaken the Assyrian people.
- wailnounChapter 1 →
A long, loud cry of grief or sorrow; here describing the mourning cries of the Assyrian widows who have lost their husbands in the overnight slaughter.
“And the widows of Ashur are loud in their wail.”
- idolsnounChapter 1 →
Physical statues or images worshipped as gods; here referring to the religious figures of the Assyrian faith that proved powerless to save the army from destruction.
“And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal.”
- GentilenounChapter 1 →
A person who is not of the Jewish faith; here used to mean any non-Israelite power or nation, specifically the Assyrian empire whose might God has shattered.
The Destruction of SennacheribShort story by Lord Byron