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Metals in the Bible

(Numbers 31:22)

            The metals listed in the above verse are gold, silver, copper, iron, tin and lead. They are, as far as I am aware, the only metals mentioned in the Bible. It also appears that they are listed in descending order, with the most valuable first. The intention is to consider each one in the order given.

            It may be noted, first of all, that it was only the first three metals that were used in the tabernacle in the Wilderness. They were the three metals that were given in the heave offering for the construction of the tabernacle and related artefacts (Exodus 25:4 and 35:5). Their importance may be judged by the fact that they were the first three things mentioned in both the passages quoted.

            It is submitted that the metals represent moral, that is, spiritual qualities as indicated in what I have set out below.

Gold.

            The primacy of gold can be shown from a number of Scriptures. It is mentioned in Genesis 2:11/12, being given pride of place. King Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold in his vision . What came after him is described as being inferior (Daniel 2:37-40). Note that the order of the metals in this passage is the same as previously listed. Further, gold was the first thing mentioned as a gift from the magi in Matthew 2:11.

            As a metal I believe gold corresponds to love in the spiritual realm. Love when compared with faith and hope by Paul is said to be the greater (1 Corinthians 13:13). Again, if we haven’t got love we are nothing and profit nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2/3).

            Returning to the tabernacle system we find that the link between the boards were bars overlaid with gold (Exodus 36:34). They were the bond that held the boards together and correspond to what Paul speaks of as the bond of perfectness, that is, love (Colossians 3:14). Gold covered all those things in the tabernacle for which it was appropriate. It covered the acacia wood which speaks of humanity.

            It needs hardly to be said that during Christ’s life here divine love was seen in him: “the love of the Christ which surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19). It is specifically said: “having loved his own who were in the world, (he) loved them to the end.” (John 13:1). Love, as every good thing, was exemplified in Christ.

Silver

            Silver is the next metal mentioned. It corresponds to faith in the spiritual realm. The boards we have mentioned stood up in bases of silver (Exodus 36:24). There were two to each board so that the boards did not lean to one side or the other. It was like ourselves - we are given two legs. As Christians it is by faith we stand (Romans 11:20). In contrast to love faith is something we need now but not hereafter. Faith will give place to sight then. Faith is needed when things aren’t seen (Hebrews 11:1). What all this involves is that the boards of the tabernacle did not lean on one another so that if one fell down the others fell on top of it. However they were held together by the bars so that they did not become separated from one another.

            Today we have to see that we maintain faith else we shall make shipwreck (1 Timothy 1:19/20).

            The present time is a dispensation of faith. Paul says: “God’s dispensation, which [is] in faith” (1 Timothy 1:4). In this regard it seems significant that the only time the word faith appears in the Old Testament (JND version) is in the well known passage which reads: “The just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). The word also appears in the AV in Deuteronomy 32:20 where JND has faithfulness. However the thought there is the lack of faith or faithfulness. Nevertheless, the thought of belief is there, for example, in Genesis 15:6. Further, Hebrews 11 speaks of many persons who “obtained witness through faith” (verse 39), showing that although faith is not given a prominent place in the Old Testament it was there in persons, that is, in those who were just.

            As to Christ himself we do not find passages speaking of his faith, but we do have it said that He is “the leader and completer of faith”(Hebrews 12:2). There are also passages speaking of his trust in God - Psalm 22:9; Matthew 27:43 and Hebrews 2:13.

Copper

            This metal speaks to us of endurance: what is often needed to withstand the heat of fire. We read, for instance, of the “fire [of persecution]”(1 Peter 4:12). In the tabernacle copper was connected with what was on the outside, such as the tent, altar of burnt offering, laver and the pegs. We shall not need copper when we are in paradise. It is needed here in a world of contrariety.

            One has no doubt that copper was in evidence when Christians suffered martyrdom, as they have done throughout the assembly’s history but maybe at some epochs more than others. Christ himself endured for it is said he, “endured [the] cross” and “endured so great contradiction from sinners against himself” (Hebrews 12:2 and 3).

Iron

            Iron signifies strength (Daniel 2:40 and 7:7). It is needed when dealing with evil (Psalm 2:9), a passage speaking of Christ. See also Revelation 2:27, 12:5 and 19:15. It did not feature in the tabernacle, but has its place in warfare. The Philistines we learn in 1 Samuel 13:19-23 maintained a monopoly of the smiths so that the Israelites could not make swords or spears, but Saul and Jonathan were credited with having such. Incidentally, this is a passage that has been a comfort to oneself. If such as Saul could be commended for having weapons one ought to see to it that one is oneself armed to meet the spiritual foe.

Tin

            Not a lot is said about this metal in the Bible. It was not used in the tabernacle. It would suggest a natural quality which is not evil but acceptable in relation to our life here, though not something that should be brought into the things of God. We have for instance, Jeroboam who was industrious (1 Kings 11:28), but failed in relation to the things of God. Business acumen is not an evil thing, but we should not bring money-making and such like things into the house of God (John 2:13-22).

Lead

            This is not spoken well of in Scripture. Weight (heaviness) is connected with it (Exodus 15:10). It is something that will drag us down. People are being dragged down all the time in this world. When I was about four years old I was ill and dreamed that I could not stop myself going down and down, and on the way were old hags. At the bottom was a den of lions. When I got near the den I prayed in my dream “Lord save me” and immediately I woke up.

            In Zechariah 5:5-11 we have a vision of an ephah and a woman in the midst of the ephah who is called Wickedness. There was also a round plate of lead described as “the weight of lead” and it was cast upon the mouth of the ephah. It was to have a house built in the land of Shinar. However the Lord’s people are to be brought out of the land of Shinar as Isaiah tells us in chapter 11:11. They are not to have their home there. What goes there is what is unfit to be in God’s presence. Shinar is really Babylon (Genesis 10:10) and is a place where evil is confined. See Revelation 18:2. Note, “hold” in that passage has the sense of “prison”.

            What we need is “the garment of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3).

Admixture

            Scripture shows that whereas some metals are acceptable in their right place, they are dross when found mixed with metals such as gold or silver. Then they have to be purged out (Ezekiel 22:17-22; Malachi 3:2/3). It is a bit like wild flowers which are fine when in a field, but when found in a garden they are usually described as weeds ! Scripture speaks of wild grapes in a similar way (Isaiah 5:2 ).

June 2008.