IRON
Was early known and wrought, Genesis 4:22. Moses often alludes to it. He compares the bondage in Egypt to a furnace for smelting iron, and speaks of the iron ore of Canaan, Deuteronomy 3:11; Deuteronomy 1:4; Deuteronomy 1:8. Many different articles and tools were anciently made of it. Immense quantities were provided for the building of the temple, 1 Chronicles 29:2, 1 Chronicles 1:29. "Iron" is used to illustrated slavery, strength, obstinacy, fortitude, affliction, etc., Deuteronomy 28:48; Job 40:18; Isaiah 48:4; Jeremiah 1:18; Ezekiel 22:18, Ezekiel 1:22; Daniel 2:33. "Iron sharpeneth iron," that is, the presence of a friend gives us more confidence and assurance. God threatens his ungrateful and perfidious people that he will make the heaven brass and the earth iron; that is, make the earth barren, and the heaven to produce no rain. Chariots of iron are chariots armed with iron spikes and scythes. See CHARIOTS.