GOLAN (golan), (Heb. go-lawn', captive).
A Levitical town of Bashan, in the tribe of Manasseh (Dent. iv:43; Josh. xx :8; xxi :27; 1 Chron. vi :71), from which the small province of Gaulonitis (rauXwarts) took its name. The word is recognized in the present Jolan or Djolan. mentioned by Burckhardt (Syria, p. 286), as giv ing name to a district lying east of the lake of Tiberias, and composed of the ancient Gaulonitis, with part of Basilan and Argob. Some diffi culty has been suggested as arising from the fact, that the Judas whom Josephus (Antio. xviii 1) calls a Gaulonite, is called by St. Luke (Acts v:37) a Galilxan. This is the more remarkable, as Josephus elsewhere (ex. gr. De Bell. Ittd.
4) carefully distinguishes Galilee and Gaulonitis. Yet he himself elsewhere calls this very Judas a Galilxan (Antiq. xx:5, 2; De Bell. Jud. :9, 1). It is, from this, probable that Judas had a double cognomen, perhaps because he had been born in Gaulonitis, but had been brought up or dwelt in Galilee.
GOLD (gold). The Hebrew word D.71, zaw hawb, yellow, golden).
1. Mineralogical Names. This is merely the mineralogical name of this metal. Several He brew words are used to denote the metal.
(1) Seg-ore' (Heb.."=i, treasured, i. e., fine gold, (Job xxviii:i5; Kings vi:2o, vii:49). (2) Beh'tser (Heb.14;, clipping, dug out), properly metal in a crude state, "golden ore." (3) Pawz (Heb.
pure or native gold (Job xxviii:i7; Cant. v:15.; Ps. xix:to; xxi:3; Prov. viii:19; Is. xiii:12; Lam. tv:2).
2. Poetical Terms. (1) A'eh'thent (Heb. C:.;1; also implying something concealed) (Job xxviii:16, 19; xxxi:24; Dan. x:5, etc.). (2) Khaw-roots' (Heb. derivation not clear) is referred to the verb khaw-rats' OM, to cut off, make pointed), and is applied to gold as eagerly sought for, From a kindred root khaw-mas' (reTrip to wrong, oppress), comes the noun khaw-mawce' (C71,1, violence), used by metaphor (Amos iii:to) for wealth gotten by wrong and oppression.
Gold was known and' valued in very early times. Abraham was rich in gold (Gen. xiii: 2; xxiv :35), and female ornaments were made of gold (Gen. xxiv :22).
To judge from Chron. xxii :14; xxix :4, the Jews must have been, in their palmy days, in possession of enormous quantities of this metal, considering the many tons of gold that were spent in the building of the temple alone, though the expression, plenteous as stones (2 Chron. 1:15),
may be considered as hyperbolical. It is, however, confirmed by the history of the other Asiatic nations, and more especially of the Persians, that the period referred to really abounded in gold, which was imported in vast tnasses from Africa and the Indies (Heeren, Ideen. 1, 37, sq.)• The queen of Sheba brought with her (from Arabia Felix), among other presents, 120 talents of gold (2 Chron. ix:9). E. M.
Figurative. Gold is often employed in Scrip ture as an emblem of what is divine, pure, precious, solid, useful, incorruptible, or lasting and gloriotts. (i) The gold of the temple and tabernacle might represent the divine excellencies of Christ, and the precious and incorruptible or dinances of his church, and graces of his people. His head is as most finc gold; his hands like gold rings, set with the beryl ; he is gold tricd in the fire; his girdle, censer, and crown are of fine gold. How divine, precious, solid, pure, and in corruptible, are his Godhead and government, power and work, person and fullness, and his preparation for, and readiness to execute his of fice ! how valuable and glorious his everlasting reward (Dan. x :5 ; Rev. iii :18 ; viii :3 ; xiv :i4).
(2) God is likened to gold; what a pure, precious, enriching, and everlasting portion is he to his people ( Job xxii :25 ; A. V. silver, Marg, gold).
(3) God's word, and his ordinances, especially if more spiritual, are likened to gold; how precious, lasting, enriching, and capable of endurinE a trial (Ps. xix:to; Is. lx:17; Zech. iv:i2; Cor. iii :12; Rev. xxi:i5). (4) Saints, and their graces of faith, hope, love, etc., or even their trials, are likened to gold (Job xxiii :to; Ps. xlv :13; I Pet. i :7). (5) The vials of God's wrath are golden; divine, pure, and unmixed with partiality or passion (Rev. xv :7). (6) That which is wealthy, pompous, and enticing is called golden; so anti christian Rome is said to have in her hand a golden cup (Rev. xvii :4).