times is indicated by its entering into the composition of all articles of ornament and almost all of
domestic use. Among the spoils of the Midianites taken by the Israelites in their bloodless victory
when Balaam was slain were earrings and jewels to the amount of 16,750 shekels of gold, (Numbers
31:48-54) equal in value to more than,000. Seventeen hundred shekels of gold (worth more than,000)
in nose jewels (Authorized Version “ear-rings”) alone were taken by Gideon’s army from the
slaughtered Midianites. (Judges 8:26) But the amount of treasure accumulated by David from spoils
taken in war is so enormous that we are tempted to conclude the numbers exaggerated. Though
gold was thus common, silver appears to have been the ordinary medium of commerce. The first
commercial transaction of which we possess the details was the purchase of Ephron’s field by
Abraham for 400 shekels of silver. (Genesis 23:16) The accumulation of wealth in the reign of
Solomon was so great that silver was but little esteemed. (1 Kings 10:21,27) Brass, or more properly
copper, was a native product of Palestine. (8:9; Job 28:2) It was plentiful in the days of Solomon,
and the quantity employed in the temple could not be estimated, it was so great. (1 Kings 7:47) No
allusion is found to zinc; but tin was well known. Arms, (2 Samuel 21:16; Job 20:24; Psalms 18:34)
and armor, (1 Samuel 17:5,6,38) were made of copper, which was capable of being so wrought as
to admit of a keen and hard edge. Iron, like copper, was found in the hills of Palestine. Iron-mines
are still worked by the inhabitants of Kefr Hunch, in the sought of the valley of Zaharani.
Methegammah
(bridle of the metropolis), a place which David took from the Philistines, apparently in his last
war with them. (2 Samuel 8:1) Ammah may be taken as meaning “mother-city” or “metropolis,”
comp. (2 Samuel 20:19) and Metheg-he-Ammah “the bridle of the mother-city”—viz. of Gath, the
chief town of the Philistines.
Methusael
(man of God), the son of Mehujael, fourth in descent from Cain, and father of Lamech. (Genesis
4:18)
Methuselah
(man of the dart), the son of Enoch, sixth in descent from Seth, and father of Lamech. (Genesis
5:25-27)
Meunim
(habitations). (Nehemiah 7:52) Elsewhere given in Authorized Version as Mehunim and
Mehunims.
Meuzai
(Ezekiel 27:19) marg. [Uzal]
Mezahab
(waters of gold), the father of Matred and grandfather of Mehetabel, who was wife of Hadar
or Hadad, the last-named king of Edom. (Genesis 36:39; 1 Chronicles 1:50)
Miamin
(from the right hand).
•A layman of Israel who had married a foreign wife and put her away at the bidding of Ezra. (Ezra
10:25)
•A priest or family of priests who went up from Babylon with Zerubbabel. (Nehemiah 12:5)
Mibhar
(choicest), one of David’s heroes in the list given in (1 Chronicles 11:38)
Mibsam
frankie
(Frankie)
#1