Metals

The Hebrews, in common with other ancient nations, were acquainted with nearly all the metals known to modern metallurgy, whether as the products of their own soil or the results of intercourse with foreigners. One of the earliest geographical definitions is that which describes the country of Havilah as the land which abounded in gold, and the gold of which was good. (Genesis 2:11-12) “Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold,” (Genesis 13:2) silver, as will be shown hereafter, being the medium of commerce, while gold existed in the shape of ornaments, during the patriarchal ages. Tin is first mentioned (Numbers 31:22) and lead is used to heighten the imagery of Moses’ triumphal song. (Exodus 15:10) Whether the ancient Hebrews were acquainted with steel, properly so called, is uncertain; the words so rendered in the Authorized Version, (2 Samuel 22:35; Job 20:24; Psalms 18:34; Jeremiah 15:12) are in all others passages translated brass, and would be more correctly copper . The “northern iron” of (Jeremiah 15:12) is believed more nearly to correspond to what we call steel [Steel] It is supposed that the Hebrews used the mixture of copper and tin known as bronze. The Hebrews obtained their principal supply from the south of Arabia and the commerce of the Persian Gulf. (Joshua 7:21) The great abundance of gold in early times is indicated by its entering into the composition of all articles of ornament and almost all of domestic use. Among the spoils of the Midianites taken by the Israelites in their bloodless victory when Balaam was slain were earrings and jewels to the amount of 16,750 shekels of gold, (Numbers 31:48-54) equal in value to more than,000. Seventeen hundred shekels of gold (worth more than,000) in nose jewels (Authorized Version “ear-rings”) alone were taken by Gideon’s army from the slaughtered Midianites. (Judges 8:26) But the amount of treasure accumulated by David from spoils taken in war is so enormous that we are tempted to conclude the numbers exaggerated. Though gold was thus common, silver appears to have been the ordinary medium of commerce. The first commercial transaction of which we possess the details was the purchase of Ephron’s field by Abraham for 400 shekels of silver . (Genesis 23:16) The accumulation of wealth in the reign of Solomon was so great that silver was but little esteemed. (1 Kings 10:21,27) Brass, or more properly copper, was a native product of Palestine. (8:9; Job 28:2) It was plentiful in the days of Solomon, and the quantity employed in the temple could not be estimated, it was so great. (1 Kings 7:47) No allusion is found to zinc; but tin was well known. Arms, (2 Samuel 21:16; Job 20:24; Psalms 18:34) and armor, (1 Samuel 17:5,6,38) were made of copper, which was capable of being so wrought as to admit of a keen and hard edge. Iron, like copper, was found in the hills of Palestine. Iron-mines are still worked by the inhabitants of Kefr Hunch, in the sought of the valley of Zaharani .

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.

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.