Gold: 1. Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour
(Exodus 25:11)(1 Chronicles 28:18; 2 Chronicles 3:5)
2. Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or
treasured up; thus precious or "fine gold"
(1 Kings 6:20; 7:49)
3. Heb. paz, native or pure gold
(Job 28:17; Psalms 19:10; 21:3) etc.
4. Heb. betzer, "ore of gold or silver" as dug out of the mine
(Job 36:19) where it means simply riches.
5. Heb. kethem, i.e., something concealed or separated
(Job 28:16,19; Psalms 45:9; Proverbs 25:12) Rendered "golden wedge" in
(Isaiah 13:12)
6. Heb. haruts, i.e., dug out; poetic for gold
(Proverbs 8:10; 16:16)
(Zechariah 9:3)
Gold was known from the earliest times
(Genesis 2:11) It was principally
used for ornaments
(Genesis 24:22) It was very abundant
(1 Chronicles 22:14)
(Nahum 2:9; Daniel 3:1) Many tons of it were used in connection with the
temple
(2 Chronicles 1:15) It was found in Arabia, Sheba, and Ophir
(1 Kings 9:28; 10:1; Job 28:16) but not in Palestine. In
(Daniel 2:38) the
Babylonian Empire is spoken of as a "head of gold" because of its great
riches; and Babylon was called by Isaiah
(Isaiah 14:4) the "golden
city" (R.V. marg., "exactress," adopting the reading marhebah,
instead of the usual word madhebah).