NECHOSHETH (rit/h); XaXx6s), frequently translated in the A. V. brass, more properly means copper, usually in a wrought state, and sometimes also in the state of bronze. Copper is commonly found in pyrites, quartz, or spar, in veins •, hence Job says Nechosheth is molten [or fused] out of the stone' (xxviii. 2). It is very hard, elastic, and durable ; and on this account in early times it was used for most purposes for which iron came after wards to be used (Hesiod, op. et Dies, 150 ; Lucret. De Rer. Nat. v. 1287). In Scripture it is mentioned as employed for armour and weapons (I Sam. xvfi. 5, 6, 38 ; 2 Sam. xxii. 35 ; Ps. xviii. 35 [where the A. V. gives incorrectly steel; as also Job xx. 24]; I Kings xiv. 27 ; for taches or hooks (Exod. xxvi. I i ; xxxvi. 18) ; for covering the altar (Exod. xxvii. 2) ; for pillars and their orna ments (a Kings vii. 13-21); for vessels, both large and small (2 Kings xxv. 13 ; I Chron. xviii. 8) ; for mirrors (Exod. xxxviii. 8; comp. Job xxxvii. 18) ; and for various utensils (2 Chron. iv. 16). It is also used for articles made of copper or bronze ; as chains or fetters (Judg. xvi. 21 ; 2 Sam. Hi. 34 ; 2 Kings xxv. ry ; Jer. xxxix. 7 ; Lam. iii. 7). As compared with gold and silver it was esteemed vile, and so became metaphorically the designation of a vile person (Jer. vi. 28). It is also meta phorically used to designate that which is strong (Ps. cvii. 16 ; Jer. i. 18 ; xv. 2o). A peculiar
usage of the word occurs Ezek. xvi. 36, of which different interpretations have been given. Ge senius understands by it money, like the Latin aes ; but there is no evidence that the Hebrews used copper money, and besides it seems to give a feeble turn to the passage to understand.the word so here. Haven-lick thinks the allusion is to the gifts which the harlot had bestowed (ver. 33), having become worthless ; they were of silver or gold, but they should be poured out as base copper ; an interpre tation which seems somewhat fanciful and far fetched. Fiirst understands by it the pudenda muliebria, and supposes the meaning of ' Thy shame shall he poured forth' to be the same as that of inn rn:tri in ver. 15, viz., thy whore dorm shall be profuse, and without restraint. He arrives at this, however, by making run) mean bottom or lower part (for which Ezek. xxiv. II, to which he refers, gives no authority), and so the lower part of the trunk, the pudenda. This is quite gratuitous, and not less so is it to make the words Thy shame was poured forth,' mean, Thy whoredom was carried on. May not Neehosheth be used here simply as a designation of what is worthless, and the meaning be that her worthless favours were profusely bestowed ?—W. L. A.