Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/375

Industrial Arts. 345 of all Israel : for the Philistines said, lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears" (1 Sam. xiii. 19-21). Similar expressions should not be taken too literally ; but only as serving to convey a picture of the degraded state into which Israel was sunk at the beginning of Saul's reign. Had there been no smiths, it is not easy to see how weapons could have been procured — scarcely from the Philistines — or how kept in repair during the long struggle against the Canaanites, whom they finally overthrew. Did we not know that the Jews were acquainted with iron, " barzel," we might infer as much from the tradition attaching to Tubal Cain, whom every 'smithy' could claim as an ancestor. The metal was in all likelihood brought in very early days to the Jordan Valley, by caravans from Mesopotamia. Its use, however, was exceedingly restricted, and before David formed no part of defensive or decorative works ; whilst iron chariots did not come into use until the succeeding reign ; so that bronze, " nechoseth," kept its repute till long afterwards. We read that the whole armour of Goliath was of brass ; including the bow, although not specified (2 Sam. xxii. 35) 1 ; the spear alone being iron pointed. We may safely conclude, therefore, that swords, daggers, cutlasses and so forth, were of the same metal, even though the text is silent in regard to them. Bronze was comparatively easy to procure, but none the less accounted one of the precious metals, and as taking rank next after gold and silver, as may be inferred from the text (2 Sam. viii. 8, 10). Nor were these metals confined to the fabrication of tools, weapons, and domestic utensils ; they also entered into ornament, both personal and of a more general character. The taste for ornament is as old as man himself. We find it among the rudest tribes, whilst sundry passages in the Pentateuch bear witness to its wide diffusion under the tent ; which doubtless kept pace with the improved conditions of the community. The old Semites, even as their descendants at the present day, took great pleasure in covering themselves and their favourite steeds with ornamented pieces of jewellery. Their women, like those of other climes, wore ear pendants and necklaces, formed by crescents, emblem of Ashtoreth, or coloured beads ; sometimes, too, a large gold or silver coin or plaque depended from the neck by a small chain, or adorned the waist. Bracelets made of inferior 1 There seems to be a slight oversight here ; for the text reads thus : " He teaches my hand to war ; so that a ' bow of steel ' is broken into my arms." — Translator.