METALS (met'als). The principal metals are in this work considered separately under their several names; and a few general observations alone are necessary in this place.
(1) Native Minerals. The mountains of Pales tine contained metals, nor were the Hebrt.ws ignorant of the fact (Deut. viii :9) ; but they do not appear to have understood the art of mining. They therefore obtained from others the superior as well as the inferior metals, and worked them up. They received also metal utensils ready made. or metal in plates (Jer. x :9), from neighboring and distant countries of Asia and Europe. The metals named in the Old Testament are (Heb.
`Zr;;.) barzel, iron steel, (Jer. xv :12) nekh-o'sheth (Heb. rVN'). rendered brass, included copper, cop per ore, and bronze, and also brass if zinc was then known; tin,(T".;, bed-eel') and lead (Heb. 70, o-feh'reth); (Heb. '733), keh'sef, silver; (Heb. :L",14), zaw-hawb', gold. The trade in these metals was chiefly in the hands of the Phcenicians (Ezek. xxvii :12), who obtained them from their colonies, principally those in Spain (Jer. x:9; Ezek. xxvii :12). Some also came from Arabia (Ezek. xxvii :19), and some apparently from the countries of the Caucasus 1(Ezek. xxvii :13). A composition of several metals is expressed by the Hebrew word chasmil. (See CHASMIL.) (2) Metallic Compositions. In general the ancients had a variety of metallic compositions, and that which the word chasmil describes appears to have been very valuable. Whether it was the same as that precious compound known among the ancients as Corinthian brass is uncertain, but it is likely that in later times the Jews possessed splendid vessels of the costly compound known by that name. Indeed, this is distinctly affirmed by Josephus (Vita, 13).
The vast quantity of silver and gold used in the temple in the time of Solomon, and which was otherwise possessed by the Jews during the flour ishing time of the nation, is very remarkable, un der whatever interpretation we regard such texts as Chron. xxii :14 ; xxix :4, etc. In like manner, v.,e find among other ancient Asiatic nations, and also among the Romans, extraordinary wealth in gold and silver vessels and ornaments of jewelry.
As all the accounts. received from sources so various, cannot be founded on exaggeration, we may rest assured that the precious metals were in those ancient times obtained abundantly from mines—gold from Africa, India, and perhaps even then from Northern Asia ; and silver principally from Spain.
(3) Metallic Manufactures. The following are the metallic manufactures named in the Old Testament :—Of iron, axes (Deut. xix :5 ; 2 Kings vi :5) ; saws (2 Sam. xii :3i) ; stone-cutters' tools (Deut. xxvii :5) ; sauce-pans (Ezek. iv :3) ; bolts, chains, knives, etc., but especially weapons of war 0 Sam. xvii :7; Aiacc. vi :35). steads were even sometimes made of iron (Deut.
:t 1) ; 'chariots of iron,' i. e., war-chariots, are noticed elsewhere. (See CHARIOTS.) Of copper we find vessels of all kinds (Lev. vi :28; Num XVi :39 ; 2 Chron. iv :16; Ezra viii :27) ; and also weapons of war, principally helmets, cuirasses, shields, spears 0 Sam. xvii :5, 6, 38; 2 Sam. xxi : 16) ; also chains (Judg. xvi :21) ; and even mirrors (Exod. xxxviii :8). (See COPPER.) Gold and sil ver furnished articles of ornament. also vessels, such as cups, goblets, etc. The holy vessels of the temple were mostly of gold (Ezra v :14). Idola ters had idols and other sacred objects of silver (Exod. xx :23; Is. ii :20 ; Acts xvii :29; xix :24). Lead is mentioned as being used for weights, and for plumb-lines in measuring (Amos vii :7 ; Zech.
v :8).
(4) Tools of the Workers. Some of the tools of workers in metal are also mentioned: Pawn, anvil (Is. xli :7) ; makkabah (Is. xliv :12); pat tish, hammer (Is. xli :7) ; mal kachim, pincers; and inappuach, bellows (Jer. vi :29) ; inatcreph, crucible (Prov. xvii :3) ; cur, melting-furnace (Ezek. xxii There are also allusions to various operations connected with the preparation of metals. 0) The smelting of metal was not only for the pur pose of rendering it fluid, but in order to sepa rate and purify the richer metal when mixed with baser minerals, as silver from lead, etc. (Is.