Metals in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
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What are Metals?
MET'ALS
The Hebrews were from ancient times acquainted with all the principal metals - gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, and lead. They produced them from their own soil or procured them by commerce with foreign nations. Palestine and Syria are rich in copper and iron, and mining operations, as well as the various processes in the manufacture of metals, such as smelting, calcining, refining, etc., are often alluded to. Job 28:1-11; Ex 20:5; Ex 32:2-4, Isa 32:20; Isa 1:25; Isa 40:19-20; Isa 44:12; Mal 3:3 . Whether they knew steel is uncertain. The Hebrew word thus translated in 2 Sam 22:36; Job 20:24; Ps 18:34; Jer 15:12 is translated "brass" in all other places, and means probably bronze. The "northern iron" of Jer 15:12 seems to correspond more closely to what we call steel. As zinc is not mentioned in the O.T., it is probable that composition of zinc and copper called brass was not known at all to the Hebrews. Where our translation has "brass," probably bronze, a composition of copper and tin, is meant. Gold was not found in Palestine, but was brought thither from Ophir, 1 Kgs 9:27-28, Parvaim, 2 Chr 3:6, Raamah, Eze 27:22, Sheba, 1 Kgs 10:2, 1 Kgs 10:10; Ps 72:16; Isa 60:6, and Uphaz. Jer 10:9. It was plentiful. Abraham was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. Gen 13:2. The army of Gideon took 1700 shekels of gold in nose-jewelry from the slaughtered Midianites. Jud 8:26. David gathered 100,000 talents of gold and the shields of gold from Hadadezer. 1 Chr 22:14; 2 Sam 8:7. The throne of Solomon was overlaid with gold, and his drinking-cups were of pure and solid gold. 1 Kgs 10:18, 1 Kgs 10:21, The Hebrews used gold, not as money, but only for ornaments - bracelets. Gen 24:22; chains, Gen 41:42; signets, Ex 35:22; necklaces, Ex 35:22 - for embroidery, Ex 39:3; 2 Sam 1:24, and for decoration, especially in the temple. 1 Kgs 6:21-22. Silver was obtained from Lydia, Thrace, and Tarshish, 1 Kgs 10:22; 2 Chr 9:21; Jer 10:9; Eze 27:12, and in the days of Solomon it was as common in Jerusalem "as stones." 1 Kgs 10:21, 1 Kgs 10:27, It was lavishly used in the temple for the sockets of the boards. Ex 26:19; Ex 36:24, the hooks, fillets, and capitals of the pillars, Ex 38:10, 2 Sam 21:17, the bowls and chargers, Num 7:13, the trumpets, Num 10:2, the candlesticks and tables. 1 Chr 28:15-16, etc. Its principal use, however, was as money; though it was not coined until the middle of the eighth century b.c. In all the commercial transactions spoken of in the O.T. up to the taking of Samaria, in b.c. 721, silver, not gold, is used as payment as by Abram at the purchase of Ephron's field. Gen 23:16; by Abimelech in compensation to Abram, Gen 20:16; by the Ishmaelite merchants when they bought Joseph. Gen 37:28, etc. Copper and iron were found in Palestine - "a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass," Deut 8:9; Job 28:2, The former, however, was much more used than the latter; arms, 2 Sam 21:16; Job 20:24; Ps 18:34, and armor, 1 Sam 17:5-6, 1 Sam 17:38, were made of it. Tin is first mentioned among the spoils of the Midianites, Num 31:22; like lead, it came from Tarshish, Eze 27:12, and it was principally used in the production of bronze. Lead found manifold applications in practical life - for inscriptions, being poured into the hollow letters carved in the stone, Job 19:24, for weights, etc.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'metals' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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