Topical Encyclopedia Mode of Purifying:In biblical times, iron was a significant metal used for various purposes, including tools, weapons, and ceremonial objects. The process of purifying iron, as with other metals, involved removing impurities to produce a more refined and usable product. This purification process is metaphorically referenced in the Scriptures, illustrating spiritual purification and refinement. The Bible often uses the imagery of refining metals to describe God's purifying work in the lives of His people. For instance, in Proverbs 17:3 , it states, "A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts." This verse highlights the process of purification as a metaphor for divine testing and refinement, akin to the purification of metals like iron. In the context of warfare, the purification of iron would have been essential for creating effective weapons and tools. The process involved heating the metal to high temperatures to separate impurities, a practice that not only improved the quality of the iron but also symbolized the removal of moral and spiritual impurities in biblical teaching. Taken in War: Iron, as a valuable resource, was often taken as spoils of war in biblical narratives. The acquisition of iron weapons and tools from defeated enemies was a common practice, reflecting the importance of iron in ancient warfare and daily life. In the conquest narratives of the Old Testament, the Israelites frequently encountered iron weapons and chariots among their adversaries. For example, in Joshua 17:16 , the descendants of Joseph express concern about the Canaanites, stating, "The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who dwell in the valley have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its towns and those in the Valley of Jezreel." This highlights the strategic advantage that iron chariots provided in warfare, making them a coveted prize in battle. The taking of iron in war not only provided immediate military benefits but also contributed to the economic and technological advancement of the victors. The Israelites, under divine guidance, were often instructed to destroy the idols and religious artifacts of their enemies but to take useful materials, such as iron, for their own use. This practice is seen in passages like Deuteronomy 20:13-14 , where the Israelites are commanded to take spoils from conquered cities. The significance of iron in biblical times, both as a material to be purified and as a resource taken in war, underscores its value and utility in the ancient world. The biblical narrative uses iron as a symbol of strength, resilience, and the transformative power of divine purification. Torrey's Topical Textbook Numbers 31:21-23And Eleazar the priest said to the men of war which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses; Torrey's Topical Textbook Library The Prophet Joel. Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews. The Close of the Theban Empire Memoir of John Bunyan An Essay on the Scriptural Doctrine of Immortality. Funeral Oration on the Great S. Basil, Bishop of C??sarea in ... Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon: Period iv. The Age of the Consolidation of the Church: 200 to 324 ... Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus. part i Resources What is the story of Deborah and Barak? | GotQuestions.orgFriendship ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org What is an ox goad / oxgoad in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Iron: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Iron of Greater Gravity than Water Iron of Severe Exercise of Power Iron of Small Comparative Value Iron used from the Earliest Age Iron: (Seared With) Insensibility of Conscience Iron: First Recorded Use of Ax Iron: First Recorded Use of Bedstead Iron: First Recorded Use of Breastplate Iron: First Recorded Use of Chariot Iron: First Recorded Use of Fetters Iron: First Recorded Use of File Iron: First Recorded Use of Furnace Iron: First Recorded Use of Gate Iron: First Recorded Use of Harrow Iron: First Recorded Use of Horn Iron: First Recorded Use of Idols Iron: First Recorded Use of Melted Iron: First Recorded Use of Ore of Iron: First Recorded Use of Pans Iron: First Recorded Use of Pen Iron: First Recorded Use of Pillars Iron: First Recorded Use of Rods for Scourging Iron: First Recorded Use of Stones of Iron: First Recorded Use of Threshing Instruments Iron: First Recorded Use of Tools Iron: First Recorded Use of Used in the Temple Iron: First Recorded Use of Vessels Iron: First Recorded Use of Weapons Iron: First Recorded Use of Yokes Iron: from the North Hardest and Best Iron: Great Quantity of, Provided for the Temple Iron: Made Into: Graving Tools Iron: Made Into: Implements for Husbandry Iron: Made Into: Nails and Hinges Iron: Made Into: Tools for Artificers Iron: Made Into: Weapons of War Iron: Miraculously Made to Swim Iron: Mode of Purifying, Taken in War Iron: Taken in War, often Dedicated to God Iron: The Land of Canaan Abounded With Related Terms |
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