Copper and its alloy, brass, hold significant places in the biblical narrative, particularly in the construction and furnishing of sacred vessels used in worship and service to God. These metals were chosen for their durability, beauty, and availability, and they played a crucial role in the religious life of ancient Israel.

Biblical References and Usage

The use of copper and brass in sacred contexts is first prominently mentioned in the construction of the Tabernacle, as detailed in the book of Exodus. The Tabernacle, a portable earthly dwelling place of God among the Israelites, required materials that were both functional and symbolically rich. Copper and brass were used extensively in its construction, particularly for items that required strength and resilience.

The Altar of Burnt Offering

One of the most significant uses of copper was in the making of the Altar of Burnt Offering. Exodus 27:1-2 describes its construction: "You are to construct the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide—the altar is to be square—and three cubits high. Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns are of one piece with the altar, and overlay it with bronze." The altar, overlaid with bronze, was central to the sacrificial system, symbolizing the atonement for sin and the people's dedication to God.

The Bronze Basin

Another critical item was the bronze basin, used by the priests for ceremonial washing. Exodus 30:18 states, "You are to make a bronze basin for washing, with a bronze stand. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it." This basin was essential for maintaining the ritual purity required for the priests to perform their duties.

The Tabernacle's Framework and Accessories

Copper and brass were also used in the Tabernacle's framework and various accessories. The bases for the pillars of the Tabernacle and the courtyard were made of bronze, providing stability and support (Exodus 38:10-11). Additionally, the utensils used in the service of the altar, such as pots, shovels, basins, forks, and firepans, were made of bronze (Exodus 27:3).

Symbolism and Significance

The use of copper and brass in these sacred vessels carried deep symbolic meaning. The durability and resilience of these metals represented the enduring nature of God's covenant with His people. The reflective quality of polished bronze could symbolize the divine light and glory, while the strength of the metal underscored the power and majesty of God.

Solomon's Temple

The tradition of using copper and brass continued with the construction of Solomon's Temple. In 1 Kings 7:45-47 , we read about the extensive use of bronze in the temple's furnishings: "the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. All these objects that Huram made for King Solomon for the house of the LORD were of polished bronze. The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan. Solomon left all these articles unweighed, because there were so many; the weight of the bronze could not be determined."

Conclusion

The use of copper and brass in the creation of sacred vessels highlights the importance of these metals in the worship practices of ancient Israel. Their presence in the Tabernacle and Temple underscores the blend of functionality and symbolism, reflecting the divine attributes and the covenant relationship between God and His people.Exodus 27:3
And you shall make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basins, and his meat hooks, and his fire pans: all the vessels thereof you shall make of brass.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 7:45
And the pots, and the shovels, and the basins: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Whether this Sacrament Ought to be Celebrated in a House and with ...
... But it is not to be made of brass, or copper, because the action of the
wine thereon produces verdigris, and provokes vomiting. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether this sacrament ought to 2.htm

The City of Benares.
... Of late years the enchased brass vessels made in Benares have ... gold leaf, spread over
plates of copper overlaying the ... The last time I made it I was accompanied ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter vii the city of.htm

Book 11 Footnotes
... kind of brass or copper, or rather mixture of gold and brass or copper, was called ...
for their heathen wives, and their children by them, which made it so ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 11 footnotes.htm

Shoes of Iron, and Strength Sufficient: a New Year's Promise
... of the shoe was to be studded with iron or copper nails. ... for travelling, for trampling,
for climbing; they are also made of iron and brass for perseverance ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/shoes of iron and strength.htm

The Presentation of the Blessed virgin in the Temple
... was made of quite short spikes of brass wire set ... similar"wide funnels made of thin
copper, ending in ... straight and some crooked, and so made an accompaniment ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/iii the presentation of the.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... The dog was, as we know, a sacred animal among the ... as to which of the Lydian kings
first made use of the new invention, and so threw into circulation the ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty
... on each leg eighteen rings of solid brass as thick ... the finger, and three rings of
copper above the ... have seized Megiddo." The Egyptians had made little progress ...
/.../chapter iiithe eighteenth theban dynasty.htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... coast itself, Tamassos near the copper-mines, and a ... swooped down on Kummukh, and
made themselves its ... together with some Aramaeans, broke into Shubarti, then ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... The mountains contained copper, iron, lead, some gold ... in pursuit of the Cimmerians,
made their appearance ... themselves through the Caspian Gates into the basin ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... should be transposed, to bring the verse into harmony with ... whom were added a body
of charioteers made up of ... scale mail and the helmet of brass; their weapons ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

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