IVIETAL
14G
METAL
there can be but little doubt that by t/XiKrpov the Sept. | translators intended, not the fossil resin known by that name to the (ireeks and to us as " amber," but the i metal so called, which consisted of a mixture of four parts of gold with one of silver, described by Pliny (xxxiii, 23) as more brilliant tlian silver by lamp-light. , There is the same difficulty attending the x^^i^oXi- jSavov (Key. i, 15; ii, 1«; A.V. '-fine brass"), which has hitherto successfully resisted all the efforts of commen- j tators, but which is explained by Suidas as a kind of electron more precious than gold. That it was a mixed metal of great brilliancy is extremely probable, but it has hitherto been impossible to identify it. Whether it was the same as that precious compound known ! among the ancients as Corinthian brass is uncertain, but i it is likely that in later times the Jews possessed splen- did vessels of the costly compound known by that name. Indeeii. this is distinctly affirmed by Josephus {Life, p. lo). See BuAss.
In addition to the metals actually mentioned in the Bible, it has been supposed that merciiri/ is alluded to in Numb, xxxi, 23 as " the water of separation," being " looked upon as the mother liy wliicli all the metals were fructified, purified, and brought forth," and on this j account kept secret, and only mysteriously hinted at ] (Napier, Metal, of the Jiible, jntrod. p. 6). Mr. Napier adds, '• There is not the slightest foundation for this sup- position."
With the exception of iron, gold is the most widely difTused of all metals. Almost every country in the world has in its turn yielded a certain supply ; and as it is found most frequently in alluvial soil, among the debris of rocks washed down by the torrents, it was known at a very early period, and was procured with little difficulty. ' Tlie existence of gold and the preva- lence of gold ornaments in early times are no proof of a high state of civilization, but rather the reverse, (iold was undoubtedly used before the art of working iron or copper was discovered. We have no intlications of gold streams or mines in Palestine. The Hebrews obtained their principal supply from the soutli of Arabia, and tlie commerce of the Persian Gulf. The ships of Hiram, king of Tyre, brought it for Solomon (1 Kings ix, 11 ; x, ll)j and at a later period, when the Hebrew monarch had eciuipped a fleet and manned it witli Tyrian sailors, the chief of their freight was the gold of Ophir (1 Kings ix, 27, 28). It was brought thence in the ships of Tar- shish (1 Kings xxii, 48), the Indiamen of the ancient world; and I'arvaim (2 Chron. iii, 6), Kaamah (Ezck. xxvii,22),Sheba (1 Kings x, 2, 10; Psa. Ixxii, 15; Isa.lx, 6 ; Ezek. xxvii, 22), and Uphaz (Jer. x, 9), were other sources of gold for the markets of I'alestine and Tyre. It was probably brought in the form of ingots (Josh, vii, 21 ; A. V. " wedge," lit. " tongue"), and was rapidly convert- ed into articles of ornament and use. Ear-rings, or rather nose-rings, were made of it — those given to Rebecca were half a shekel ( \ »■/.^ in weight ((Jen. xxiv, 22)— bracelets (Gen. xxiv, 2-.'), chains (Gen. xli, 42), signets (Exod. XXXV, 22), biiUii; or f-iihcrical ornaments suspended from the neck (Exod. xxxv,22), and chains for the legs (Numb. xxxi, 50 ; comp. Isa. iii, 18 ; Pliny, xxxiii, 12). It was used in embroidery (Exod. xxxix, 3 ; 2 Sam. i, 24 ; Plinj-, viii, 74) ; the decorations and furniture of the Tabernacle were enriched with flic gold of the ornaments Avhich the Hebrews willingly otVered (Exod. xxxv-xl); the same precious metal was lavished u|K)n the Tem])le (1 Kings vi, vii); Solomon's throne was overlaid with gold (1 Kings X, 18), his drinking-cups and tlie vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold (1 Kings X, 21), and the neighboring princes brought him as presents vessels of gold and silver (1 Kings x, 25). So pleniiful indeed was the supply of the precious met- als during his reign that silver was esteemed of little worth (1 Kings x, 21, 27). (iold and silver were de- voted to the fashioning of idolatrous images (Exod. xx, 23; xxxii. 4; Deut. xxix, 17; 1 Kings xii, 28). The crown on the head of Malcham (A, V. " their king"),