iron Summary and Overview

Tubal-Cain is the first-mentioned worker in iron (Gen. 4:22). The Egyptians wrought it at Sinai before the Exodus. David prepared it in great abundance for the temple (1 Chr. 22:3: 29:7). The merchants of Dan and Javan brought it to the market of Tyre (Ezek. 27:19). Various instruments are mentioned as made of iron (Deut. 27:5; 19:5; Josh. 17:16, 18; 1 Sam. 17:7; 2 Sam. 12:31; 2 Kings 6:5, 6; 1 Chr. 22:3; Isa. 10:34). Figuratively, a yoke of iron (Deut. 28:48) denotes hard service; a rod of iron (Ps. 2:9), a stern government; a pillar of iron (Jer. 1:18), a strong support; a furnace of iron (Deut. 4:20), severe labour; a bar of iron (Job 40:18), strength; fetters of iron (Ps. 107:10), affliction; giving silver for iron (Isa. 60:17), prosperity.

I'RON . Prov 27:17. Some of the uses of this well-known and most valuable metal were probably understood at a very early period. Gen 4:22. We find it mentioned as the material for tools, Deut 27:5; 2 Kgs 6:6; weapons of war. 1 Sam 17:7; furniture, Deut 3:11; implements of husbandry, 2 Sam. 12:31: Jer 28:14; and chariots of war. Josh 17:16, etc. By "northern iron," Jer 15:12, probably is intended a species of iron-ore or manufacture remarkable for its hardness, found in a region bordering on the Euxine Sea, and of course north of Judaea. The expression "a land whose stones are iron," Deut 8:9, seems to describe an abundance of iron-ore, which is certainly true of the northern parts of Palestine, as shown by recent exploration. See Steel.