Used for a great variety of purposes, as may be judged from the frequent references to it in Scripture. It first appears in commerce in Gen. 13:2; 23:15, 16. It was largely employed for making vessels for the sanctuary in the wilderness (Ex. 26:19; 27:17; Num. 7:13, 19; 10:2). There is no record of its having been found in Syria or Palestine. It was brought in large quantities by foreign merchants from abroad, from Spain and India and other countries probably. In very early times silver was used for ornaments, (Genesis 24:53) and for vessels of various kinds. Images for idolatrous worship were made of silver or overlaid with it, (Exodus 20:23; Hosea 13:2); Habb 2:19 Bar. 6:39, and the manufacture of silver shrines for Diana was a trade in Ephesus. (Acts 19:24) But its chief use was as a medium of exchange, and throughout the Old Testament we find "silver" used for money, like the French argent . Silver was brought to Solomon from Arabia, (2 Chronicles 9:14) and from Tarshish, (2 Chronicles 9:21) which supplied the markets of Tyre. (Ezekiel 27:12) From Tarshish it came int he form of plates, (Jeremiah 10:9) like those on which the sacred books of the Singhalese are written to this day. Spain appears to have been the chief source whence silver was obtained by the ancients. Possibly the hills of Palestine may have afforded some supply of this metal. Silvers mixed with alloy is referred to in (Jeremiah 6:30) and a finer kind, either purer in itself or more thoroughly purified, is mentioned in (Proverbs 8:19) Veins of, found in the earth -- Job 28:1. Generally found in an impure state -- Pr 25:4. Comparative value of -- Isa 60:17. Described as White and shining. -- Ps 68:13,14. Fusible. -- Eze 22:20,22. Malleable. -- Jer 10:9. Purified by fire -- Pr 17:3; Zec 13:9. Purified, called Refined silver. -- 1Ch 29:4. Choice silver. -- Pr 8:19. Tarshish carried on extensive commerce in -- Jer 10:9; Eze 27:12. The patriarchs rich in -- Ge 13:2; 24:35. Used as money from the earliest times -- Ge 23:15,16; 37:28; 1Ki 16:24. Very abundant in the reign of Solomon -- 1Ki 10:21,22,27; 2Ch 9:20,21,27. The working in, a trade -- Ac 19:24. Made into Cups. -- Ge 44:2. Dishes. -- Nu 7:13,84,85. Bowls. -- Nu 7:13,84. Thin plates. -- Jer 10:9. Chains. -- Isa 40:19. Wires (alluded to). -- Ec 12:6. Sockets for the boards of the tabernacle. -- Ex 26:19,25,32; 36:24,26,30,36. Ornaments and hooks for the pillars of the tabernacle. -- Ex 27:17; 38:19. Candlesticks. -- 1Ch 28:15. Tables. -- 1Ch 28:16. Beds or couches. -- Es 1:6. Vessels. -- 2Sa 8:10; Ezr 6:5. Idols. -- Ps 115:4; Isa 2:20; 30:22. Ornaments for the person. -- Ex 3:22. Given by the Israelite for making the tabernacle -- Ex 25:3; 35:24. Given by David and his subjects for making the temple -- 1Ch 28:14; 29:2,6-9. Taken in war often consecrated to God -- Jos 6:19; 2Sa 8:11; 1Ki 15:15. Taken in war purified by fire -- Nu 31:22,23. Often given as presents -- 1Ki 10:25; 2Ki 5:5,23. Tribute often paid in -- 2Ch 17:11; Ne 5:15. Illustrative Of the words of the Lord. -- Ps 12:6. Of the tongue of the just. -- Pr 10:20. Of good rulers. -- Isa 1:22,23. Of the Medo-Persian kingdom. -- Da 2:32,39. Of saints purified by affliction. -- Ps 66:10; Zec 13:9. (Labour of seeking for,) of diligence required for attaining knowledge. -- Pr 2:4. (Reprobate,) of the wicked. -- Jer 6:30. (Dross of,) of the wicked. -- Isa 1:22; Eze 22:18. Wisdom to be esteemed more than -- Job 28:15; Pr 3:14; 8:10,19; 16:16.
Silver