Havilah is celebrated for its gold: the bdellium and onyxstone are also said to be found there. Whether these products were discovered in antediluvian times or not, it is certain they were in use long before the time of Moses, so that the fact had obtained general notoriety. It is not, however, uncertain whether metallurgy was known before the Flood. We have already shown that Tubal-Cain was an "instructor of every artificer in brass and iron;" and in the period under consideration gold and silver were not only known, but in common use: Abraham gave unto Ephron four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. And his servant presented unto Rebekah bracelets of gold, and other ornaments. These and several other proofs which might be adduced, show that the arts necessary to the obtaining and purifying of the metals were well known and generally practised. We shall, however, only add the illustrations of this subject which are supplied by the Book of Job. In chapter xxviii. of this ancient poem, we have a remarkable picture of mining operations, of the purifying of metals, and of the value of precious stones. We give the passage entire :

"Truly there is a mine for silver,

And a bed for gold which men refine :
Iron is dug up from the earth,

And the rock poureth forth copper.

Man delveth into the region of darkness,

And examineth to the utmost limit

The stones of darkness and death shade.

He breaketh up the veins from the matrix,

Which, though thought nothing of under the foot,

Are drawn forth, are brandished among mankind.

The earth of itself poureth forth bread;

But below it windeth a fiery region:

Sapphire are its stones,

And gold is its ground:

The eagle knoweth not its pathway,

Nor the eye of the vulture descrieth it;

The whelps of ferocious beasts have not tracked it:

Man thrusteth his hand into the sparry ore,

He up-turneth the mountains from the roots.
He scoopeth channels through the rocks,
His eye discerneth every precious gem.
He restraineth the oozing of the streams,
So that what was concealed becomes radiant.

"But wisdom! where shall it be found? Where is the abode of understanding?

Mortal man knoweth not its origin;

Nor is it to be found in the land of the living.
The abyss saith, 'It is not in me;'

The sea saith, Nor yet in me.'

It cannot be obtained for virgin-gold;

Nor shall silver be weighed for its price.

It cannot be purchased with the gold of Ophir,
With the precious onyx or the sapphire.
The diamond set in gold cannot equal it;
Nor can jewels of pure gold compare with it.
Speak not of agates or of pearls ;

For the value of wisdom is far beyond rubies.

The emerald of Cush cannot rival it;

Nor for the Arabian topaz can it be bartered." *

It is scarcely necessary to direct the reader to the amount of information supplied by this passage. Here we have the mining of the most important metals-gold, silver, iron, copper-distinctly mentioned.

The "stones of darkness," and "the region of darkness," plainly allude to the subterranean excavations of the mines. The depth, darkness, and intricacy of these are further indicated by showing that the most daring beasts of prey would hardly enter them; that the ravenous vulture never penetrated their recesses. The intense heat of this subterranean region is stated; in fact, the entire economy of mining is exhibited; the rocky strata in which the metals are found, the labour and danger of up-turning the mountains, are portrayed with graphic accuracy. Then we have a detail of the measures taken to divert the streams of water, and to restrain and control their progress. Nothing can be more certain than that the entire process of mining for metals and precious stones must have been known to the writer of this piece. It is impossible to account for its production on any other principle.

The refining and purifying of metals are also described. The imbedded ore in the matrix, the fining of the gold and silver, are exhibited. We have also in this interesting

*In the first part of this piece we have adopted Dr. Mason Good's translation, and in the latter that of Mr. Wemys.

passage of holy writ, a large catalogue of precious stones : the sapphire, onyx, diamond, agate, pearl, ruby, emerald, and topaz, are specially noticed. It is, indeed, admitted, that there is great uncertainty in the translation of the original terms which represent the names of these gems; but we do not think that this circumstance affects the main scope of the subject. There can be no doubt that these names were used to designate precious stones; and if in one or two cases we are uncertain as to the exact species, it does not invalidate the general argument.

It is certain that the knowledge and practice of such arts must have had an important bearing on the civilization of the age. Another question of an analogous character respects the existence of coined money. In the authorized translation of Job xlii. 11, we are told that when the Lord restored the patriarch to health and prosperity, his friends and kinsmen visited him, and that "every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an ear-ring of gold." The term which in this text is rendered "a piece of money," is found in only two other passages of the Old Testament,— Gen. xxxiii. 19, and Joshua xxiv. 32. In the former of these, the term is rendered "pieces of money," and in the latter "lambs." In all these cases the Septuagint reads "lambs;" but in the passage referred to in the Book of Job, that version, instead of "an ear-ring of gold," reads "a shekel of gold, and some unstamped:" a fact which gives countenance to the supposition generally entertained, that the first money, being coined and brought into use by an agricultural people, had the image of a lamb impressed on it. It is obvious. that the present of a lamb would have been very insignificant in the case of Job, living as he did among a pastoral people. Besides, the immediate connexion of the phrase with "an ear-ring of gold," seems to show that the present must have consisted of money or precious metal. It should also be observed, that the purchase of the field of Succoth by Jacob is said by Stephen to have been made by "a sum of money." (Acts vii. 16.)

"Bochart contends that some species of money is indicated

by these terms, and assigns the following reasons for his opinion:

"1. Because the scripture, in treating of sheep and lambs, never calls them by this name.

"2. Because the same term in the Talmudists, and almost all the modern Hebrew writers, signifies money.

"3. Because of its feminine termination, and the improbability that Jacob should buy a field for a hundred lambs, or that Job should receive such gifts from his friends.

"4. Because, at that period, those only were reckoned proper purchases which were made with money.

5. Because in Acts vii. 16 the field is said to have been bought of the sons of Emmor, not with lambs, but with a money price.'"*

Although, therefore, we cannot regard the point as free from doubt, it does not appear improbable that at this time money, or some adaptation of the precious metals equivalent to coined money, was in general use.

The book of Genesis plainly declares that not only were empires then raised, and kingly state maintained; but that wars were waged, districts and communities subjected, and brought under tribute; and afterwards, that a desperate but unsuccessful conflict was hazarded, in the hope of retrieving independence. Profane history abundantly confirms this account, and exhibits the rise of empires, the progress of ambition, and at length the subjugation of Babylonia and Persia to the Assyrian power. In the records of those times are found several allusions to a state of warfare, and to the arts, weapons, and materiel then employed in military operations; to which we may now briefly refer. The book of Job contains many such allusions. In chap. vi.

4, we have a reference to arrows, and to arrows rendered more deadly by being charged with poison.

* Quoted by WEMYS, p. 324. It should be remembered, in addition to the above, that long before this we read of a kind of money in use in China.

C C

"Behold, the ARROWS of the Almighty are within me;
Their poison drinketh up my spirit."

Many efforts must have been made in the art of human destruction, before poisoned arrows were invented; yet it is clear that they were at least as ancient as the book of Job. It is admitted that the language which we have quoted is figurative; but, as we have on previous occasions intimated, the fact must have existed before it could have been made the basis of a figure." In using these terms, Job no doubt had a reference to the practice of his own day in the prosecution of warfare. The wounds inflicted by such arrows produce a burning fever, and an intense parching thirst, so as to dry up all the moisture in the system, inflame the blood, produce putrescence, and terminate in raging mania, from which the patient is relieved only by death. The metaphor occurs again in verse 9, where the patriarch beseeches God to loosen his hand, like an archer drawing his bow to the head, and then letting go his hand, that the arrow may fly to the mark. In chap. xii. 20, Job plainly alludes to the mark at which arrows are directed. See also chap. xxi. 12.” * But, what is still more surprising, we have in this same inspired book an allusion to the use of bows manufactured of steel or brass. The authorized version gives the text thus: "He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through;" (chap. xx. 24;) and Dr. Mason Good renders it,

"Should he flee from the clashing steel,
The bow of brass shall pierce him through."

It is not certain what metal was used for this purpose; but there can be no doubt that some metallic substance was employed in the construction of bows. Repeated mention is likewise made of the sword. We are told that the servants of Job were slain" with the edge of the sword." (Job i. 15-17.) "He saveth the poor from the sword." (Chap. v. 15.) "He

*WEMYS'S "Job and his Times," p. 311.