ZAHAB (lir), the general name for gold in Hebrew. Besides this other words are used to indicate the metal in different states, or of different qualities, viz.—t. TB, native gold, produced in a pure state, and without mixture with any other metal ( Job xxviii. ; Ps. xxi. 4 • cxix. 127; Song v. 15, etc.) The word is derived' apparently from rl.2, to sey5arate or purify ; in 2 Chron. ix. 17 nitiy artt, pure gold, is used instead of Tina ''t of Kings x. 18. 2. "In, gold-dust or ore (Job xxii. 24, 25) [BET2E.R.] 3. mr.r1, from r2r), to shine, g-lister, de notes gold with reference to its colour (Ps. lxviii. ; Prov. ; viii. ; xvi. 16 ; Zech. ix. 3) ; it is used chiefly in connection with silver. 4. arm, from tria, to dig out ore, used poetically for gold (Job xxi. 34 ; Prov. xxv. 12 ; Lam. iv. r, etc.) ; it is sometimes coupled with -opiN (job xxviit. 16; Ps. xlv. TO ; IS. Xiii. 12), once ?FIN (Dan. x. 5). Zahab is sometimes joined with '1.);17, signifying concealea', shut up, treasured, to describe treasured golci (1 Kings Vi. 20, 21 ; Vii. 49, 50 ; X. 21 ; Chron. iv. 20). In Kings x. 16, 17, and 2 Chron. ix. 15, 16, mention is made of milt, nm, of which Solomon caused two hundred shields to be made. Gesenius renders this mixed or alloyed gold ; but the rendering of the LXX., xpvo-a eXarci, gold beaten out by the hammer into plates, seems preferable.
The Hebrews got their gold from Arabia, chiefly from Ophir. Mention is also made of Uphaz and Parvaim as places whence gold was brought ; but great uncertainty exists as to the places so named [RARvArm ; UPHAZ]. Gold was known at a very early period (Gen. ii. r), and was used from re mote antiquity for articles of personal ornament (Gen. xxiv. 22 ; 42). It constituted part of Abraham's wealth (Gen. xiii. 2). It was extem
sively employed for the utensils of the tabernacle and in the temple (Exod. xxv. 35 ; Kings vi. 22). The first notice we have of its being used as money is in the age of David 0 Chron. xxi. 25). In early times silver seems to have been the usual medium of exchange, and hence in Hebrew as in other tongues silver often means money (Gen. 9, etc.)—W. L. A.
ZAIR (Vin, 'little ;' Etthp ; Seira). In the expedition of king Joram against Edom this place is mentioned. It is said he went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him ; and he rose by night and smote the Edomites which compassed him about ' (2 Kings viii. 21). There is no other refer ence to it in Scripture. It was evidently situated on, if not within the border of Edom, and conse quently somewhere in the great valley of Arabah. There Joram would have favourable ground for the operations of his chariots. As no place of this name has been found on the borders of Moab, several theories have been advanced regarding it. r. Some identify it with Zoar ; but the latter was situated too far northward (Movers, Krit. Unters. 218). 2. Some suppose it to be an erroneous reading for 'inT, • his princes,' which is found in its place in the parallel passage (2 Chron. xxi. 9,) ; but for this there is no manuscript authority Paralip. p. ro7). 3. Others think that the correct reading ought to be VIV, Seir, the ancient name of Edom. Such conjectures are purely gratuitous. The critical scholar must admit the authenticity of the text unless he can bring forward some trustworthy evidence of corruption (see Keil and Bertheau, ad loc.)—j. L. P.