instruments (1 Chronicles 15:19; 1 Corinthians 13:1), and for money
(Matthew 10:9).
It is a symbol of insensibility and obstinacy in sin (Isaiah 48:4; Jeremiah
6:28; Ezekiel 22:18), and of strength (Psalm 107:16; Micah 4:13).
The Macedonian empire is described as a kingdom of brass (Daniel 2:39).
The “mountains of brass” Zechariah (6:1) speaks of have been supposed
to represent the immutable decrees of God.
The serpent of brass was made by Moses at the command of God
(Numbers 21:4-9), and elevated on a pole, so that it might be seen by all
the people when wounded by the bite of the serpents that were sent to
them as a punishment for their murmurings against God and against
Moses. It was afterwards carried by the Jews into Canaan, and preserved
by them till the time of Hezekiah, who caused it to be at length destroyed
because it began to be viewed by the people with superstitious reverence
(2 Kings 18:4). (See NEHUSHTAN.)
The brazen serpent is alluded to by our Lord in John 3:14, 15. (See
SERPENT.)
- BRAVERY (Isaiah 3:18), an old English word meaning comeliness or
beauty. - BREACH an opening in a wall (1 Kings 11:27; 2 Kings 12:5); the fracture
of a limb (Leviticus 24:20), and hence the expression, “Heal, etc.” (Psalm
60:2). Judges 5:17, a bay or harbour; R.V., “by his creeks.” - BREAD among the Jews was generally made of wheat (Exodus 29:2;
Judges 6:19), though also sometimes of other grains (Genesis 14:18; Judges
7:13). Parched grain was sometimes used for food without any other
preparation (Ruth 2:14).
Bread was prepared by kneading in wooden bowls or “kneading troughs”
(Genesis 18:6; Exodus 12:34; Jeremiah 7:18). The dough was mixed with
leaven and made into thin cakes, round or oval, and then baked. The bread
eaten at the Passover was always unleavened (Exodus 12:15-20;
Deuteronomy 16:3). In the towns there were public ovens, which were
much made use of for baking bread; there were also bakers by trade (Hos.
7:4; Jeremiah 37:21). Their ovens were not unlike those of modern times.
But sometimes the bread was baked by being placed on the ground that
had been heated by a fire, and by covering it with the embers (1 Kings