Tongs are a tool mentioned in the Bible, primarily associated with the handling of hot coals and the maintenance of the altar fire. They are indicative of the care and precision required in the service of the Lord, particularly in the context of temple worship and sacrifices.

1. Use in the Tabernacle and Temple:

Tongs are first mentioned in the context of the tabernacle, the portable dwelling place for the divine presence among the Israelites. In Exodus 25:38, God provides Moses with specific instructions for the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings, including the golden lampstand: "Its wick trimmers and their trays are to be of pure gold." The term "wick trimmers" is often understood to include tongs, which were used to tend the lamps.

In the temple built by Solomon, tongs are again mentioned as part of the sacred utensils. 1 Kings 7:49 describes the furnishings of the temple: "the lampstands of pure gold, five on the right side and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary; the gold floral work, lamps, and tongs." This highlights the continuity of worship practices from the tabernacle to the temple, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the sacred fire.

2. Symbolism and Function:

Tongs symbolize the careful and reverent handling of holy things. In Isaiah 6:6, a seraphim uses tongs to take a live coal from the altar and touch Isaiah's lips, symbolizing purification and preparation for prophetic ministry: "Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar." This act signifies the cleansing power of God and the readiness required for His service.

3. Craftsmanship and Material:

The construction of tongs, as with other temple implements, reflects the skill and artistry dedicated to the service of God. In 2 Chronicles 4:21, the chronicler notes the craftsmanship involved: "the flowers, lamps, and tongs of gold—of purest gold." The use of gold signifies the value and purity expected in items used for worship, underscoring the holiness of the temple environment.

4. Practical Application:

While the Bible does not provide extensive details on the everyday use of tongs, their inclusion in the descriptions of temple furnishings suggests their practical necessity in maintaining the sacred fire and ensuring the proper function of the altar and lampstands. The presence of tongs in these contexts serves as a reminder of the meticulous care required in the worship of God, reflecting a broader principle of reverence and attention to detail in spiritual service.

In summary, tongs in the Bible are more than mere tools; they are instruments of divine service, symbolizing purity, precision, and the sacred duty of maintaining the light and fire of God's presence among His people.Exodus 25:38
And the tongs thereof, and the firepans thereof, shall be of pure gold.
Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 4:9
And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his firepans, and all the oil vessels thereof, with which they minister to it:
Nave's Topical Index

1 Kings 7:49
And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold,
Nave's Topical Index

1 Cor. I. 26, 27
... cast out, both by the testimony of the Scriptures and by ... suppose the smith by means
of the tongs drawing out ... Know ye not that armies while the general and king ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily v 1 cor i.htm

Abraham, his Trial in Egypt; his Humility
... general characters impossible, and why, [976]60; false judgment of men in regard
to things of the world, [977]68. Judgment, Future, infidel doubts concerning, ...
/.../abraham his trial in egypt.htm

Letter xxii. To Eustochium.
... Their curling hair shows traces of the tongs; their fingers ... to sing psalms and read
the Scriptures according to ... not only gold and silver in general, but earth ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xxii to eustochium.htm

Beginning at Jerusalem. --Luke xxiv. 47.
... Lord, and to be charged in the general with his ... in these his blessed bills, the holy
scriptures I mean ... Paul) that were in Judea, heard this concerning me, that ...
/.../bunyan/jerusalem sinner saved/beginning at jerusalem luke xxiv 47.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... and shadows, so by places and things, in that land.1. In general, she is ... instead
of making their notions stoop to the Word, they make the Scriptures stoop to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Jerusalem Sinner Saved;
... Lord, and to be charged in the general with his ... in these, his blessed bills, the
holy scriptures I mean ... Paul, that were in Judea, heard this concerning me, that ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the jerusalem sinner saved.htm

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