Bronze

A metal highly prized for its strength and durability. It had a variety of uses in biblical times and was employed extensively in both the tabernacle and temple.

Bronze as a material used by craftsmen

Genesis 4:22 See also Exodus 31:1–6 parallel Exodus 35:30–34; 1 Kings 7:13–14; 1 Chronicles 22:15–16; 2 Chronicles 2:7, 2 Chronicles 2:13–14, 2 Chronicles 24:12

And Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

Characteristics of bronze

It was renowned for its strength

Jeremiah 15:12 See also Leviticus 26:18–19; Deuteronomy 28:23; Job 6:12, Job 37:18, Job 40:18, Job 41:27; Isaiah 48:4; Jeremiah 1:18, Jeremiah 15:20; Daniel 7:19; Micah 4:13

Can anyone smash iron — iron from the north — or bronze?

It was noted for its brilliance

Daniel 10:5–6 See also Ezekiel 40:3; Revelation 1:15, Revelation 2:18

I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

The monetary value of bronze

It was an expensive metal

Revelation 18:11–12 See also 1 Chronicles 18:8–10; Ezra 8:26–27; Ezekiel 27:13

And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo — cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;

It was less valuable than gold or silver

Isaiah 60:17 See also 1 Kings 14:25–28 parallel 2 Chronicles 12:9–11

Instead of bronze I will bring you gold; I will bring silver in place of iron, bronze instead of wood, and iron instead of stones. I will appoint peace as your governor and righteousness as your ruler.

Offerings of bronze were made at various times

Exodus 35:24 See also Exodus 25:1–7 parallel Exodus 35:4–9; Exodus 38:29–31; 1 Chronicles 18:9–11, 1 Chronicles 22:14, 1 Chronicles 29:6–7

And all who could present an offering of silver or bronze brought it as a contribution to the LORD. Also, everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the service brought it.

Bronze was used in the tabernacle

For the altar and its utensils

2 Chronicles 1:5–6 See also Exodus 27:1–6 parallel Exodus 38:1–6; Exodus 35:16 parallel Exodus 39:39; Numbers 4:13, Numbers 16:39–40

But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, was in Gibeon before the tabernacle of the LORD. So Solomon and the assembly inquired of Him there. Solomon offered sacrifices there before the LORD on the bronze altar at the Tent of Meeting, where he offered a thousand burnt offerings.

For the laver

Exodus 30:18 See also Exodus 35:16, Exodus 38:8

“You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it,

For the tent and the framework of the tabernacle

Exodus 27:17–19 parallel Exodus 38:17–20 See also Exodus 26:10–11, Exodus 26:36–37, Exodus 27:9–11 parallel Exodus 38:9–11; Exodus 36:18, Exodus 36:37–38

All the posts around the courtyard shall have silver bands, silver hooks, and bronze bases. The entire courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely spun linen five cubits high, and with bronze bases. All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, including all its tent pegs and the tent pegs of the courtyard, shall be made of bronze.

Bronze was used extensively in the temple

2 Chronicles 4:18 See also 1 Kings 7:23–33, 1 Kings 7:38–45 parallel 2 Chronicles 4:9–16; 1 Kings 8:64; 2 Kings 16:17, 2 Kings 25:13–17 parallel Jeremiah 52:17–23; 1 Chronicles 18:8, 1 Chronicles 29:2; 2 Chronicles 4:1

Solomon made all these articles in such great abundance that the weight of the bronze could not be determined.

Other uses of bronze

For armour

1 Samuel 17:5–6 See also 1 Samuel 17:38

and he had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a bronze coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels, and he had armor of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders.

For weapons

2 Samuel 21:16 See also 1 Samuel 17:6; 2 Samuel 22:35 parallel Psalm 18:34

Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David.

For shackles

Judges 16:21 See also 2 Kings 25:7 parallels Jeremiah 39:7, Jeremiah 52:11; 2 Chronicles 33:11, 2 Chronicles 36:6; Daniel 4:15, Daniel 4:23

Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze shackles and forced to grind grain in the prison.

For gates

Psalm 107:16 See also Deuteronomy 33:25; 1 Kings 4:13; 1 Chronicles 22:3; Isaiah 45:2

For He has broken down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.

For the bronze snake

Numbers 21:9 See also 2 Kings 18:4

So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.

For idols

Daniel 5:4 See also Daniel 5:23; Revelation 9:20

As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

For mirrors

Exodus 38:8 See also Job 37:18

Next he made the bronze basin and its stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

For cooking utensils

Leviticus 6:28

The clay pot in which the sin offering is boiled must be broken; if it is boiled in a bronze pot, the pot must be scoured and rinsed with water.

For tools

Genesis 4:22

And Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

For musical instruments

1 Chronicles 15:19

The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals.

For statues

See also Daniel 2:32, Daniel 2:35, Daniel 2:45

Bronze as booty in war

Joshua 22:7–8 See also Numbers 31:21–23; Joshua 6:24; 2 Samuel 8:8 parallel 1 Chronicles 18:8

(To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan among their brothers.) When Joshua sent them to their homes he blessed them, saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth, with immense herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and very many clothes. Divide with your brothers the spoil of your enemies.”

The metaphorical use of bronze

Daniel 2:39 See also Leviticus 26:19; Deuteronomy 28:23; Job 40:18; Jeremiah 1:18, Jeremiah 1:18; Zechariah 6:1

But after you, there will arise another kingdom, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule the whole earth.