Hanging

(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 (Nu. 25:4; Deut. 21:22). (See 2 Sam. 21:6 for the practice of the Gibeonites.) Hanging (as a curtain). (1.) Heb. masak, (a) before the entrance to the court of the tabernacle (Ex. 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. (2.) Heb. kelaim, tapestry covering the walls of the tabernacle (Ex. 27:9; 35:17; Num. 3:26) to the half of the height of the wall (Ex. 27:18; comp. 26:16). These hangings were fastened to pillars. (3.) Heb. bottim (2 Kings 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.

HANG'ING. According to Jewish law, the criminal was first strangled and then hanged. Num 25:4; Deut 21:22. The body was to be taken down before sunset. It was a special mark of infamy and a curse, Deut 21:23. Jesus is said to have been "hanged on a tree;" literally, "on a beam of wood." Acts 5:30; Gal 3:13. But the expression refers to his crucifixion.

HANGING, HANGINGS. The words are not the singular and plural of the same word in the Hebrew, but are translations of quite different words. The "hanging" — literally, "a cover" — is the word for the curtain before the door of the tabernacle, Ex 26:36-37; Ex 39:38, and for the curtain before the entrance of the court. Ex 27:16; Ex 38:18; Num 4:26. The same Hebrew word is several times translated correctly in the expression, "veil of the covering." Ex 35:12; Ex 39:34; Ex 40:21; Num 4:5. The "hangings"—literally, "that which is in motion" — were the coverings upon the walls of the court of the tabernacle. Ex 27:9; Ps 35:17; Ex 38:9; Num 3:26; Song 4:6, Num 4:26. The word "hangings" is used in 2 Kgs 23:7, but the Hebrew word may more properly be translated "tents," such as were used in the impure rites of Ashtoreth.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The act of suspending anything; the state of being suspended.

2. Death by suspension; execution by a halter.

3. That which is hung as lining or drapery for the walls of a room, as tapestry, paper, etc., or to cover or drape a door or window; -- used chiefly in the plural. Nor purple hangings clothe the palace walls. Dryden.

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

1. Requiring, deserving, or foreboding death by the halter. "What a hanging face!" Dryden.

2. Suspended from above; pendent; as, hanging shelves.

3. Adapted for sustaining a hanging object; as, the hanging post of a gate, the post which holds the hinges. Hanging compass, a compass suspended so that the card may be read from beneath. -- Hanging garden, a garden sustained at an artificial elevation by any means, as by the terraces at Babylon. -- Hanging indentation. See under Indentation. -- Hanging rail (Arch.), that rail of a door or casement to which hinges are attached. -- Hanging side (Mining), the overhanging side of an inclined or hading vein. -- Hanging sleeves. (a) Strips of the same stuff as the gown, hanging down the back from the shoulders. (b) Loose, flowing sleeves. -- Hanging stile. (Arch.) (a) That stile of a door to which hinges are secured. (b) That upright of a window frame to which casements are hinged, or in which the pulleys for sash windows are fastened. -- Hanging wall (Mining), the upper wall of inclined vein, or that which hangs over the miner's head when working in the vein.