Arts, Crafts, and Fine Arts.

The beginnings of the various arts, crafts, fine arts, and other inventions are hidden in remote antiquity. From Genesis 4:21 we see that Jubal, the son of Lamech and Adah, was the father of all who play the harp and pipe, and that Tubal-cain, the son of Zillah, was a smith of every implement of bronze and iron (v. 22). The building of Noah's ark required knowledge of many arts and crafts, such as architecture, mathematical calculation, and the like. In Exodus 30:25 the word art is connected with the preparation of holy chrism and other precious ointments; verses 23 and 24 of that chapter make it clear that their preparation required special knowledge and experience.

This chrism was used both to anoint the sanctuary and to anoint persons of high rank, such as kings, high priests, and prophets. Other precious ointments were required at the burial of kings and other honored persons. Thus, according to 2 Chronicles 16:14, the burial couch of King Asa was filled with spices and various ointments prepared by the perfumer's art, and 'they made a very great burning for him.' The long-lasting preservative power of these latter preparations may be judged from the Egyptian mummies found in the catacombs of Egypt and in various European museums.

In Acts 17:29 the word art is connected with the careful and delicate fashioning of works from gold, silver, and precious stones. The art of engraving precious stones and making various objects of gold already existed in remote antiquity (Exod 28:9-14). Many beautiful monuments of the ancient goldsmith's art are still preserved in the British Museum in the form of rings, earrings, bracelets, chains, and the like. The holy apostle Paul's description of the idols at Athens closely resembles the words of the Psalmist, Isaiah, and the other prophets (Ps 115:4; Isa 44:9-20).

The majestic satire upon the makers of idols in the cited passage of Isaiah vividly shows the level attained by the various arts more than seven hundred years before the birth of Christ. In the apocryphal Wisdom of Solomon 14:4-5, the word art is connected with the construction of seagoing vessels and navigation. This art too is among the most ancient. A haven for ships is mentioned in Jacob's prophecy concerning Zebulun (Gen 49:13) and in Judges 5:17; ships are mentioned in Numbers 24:24, Psalm 107:23, and Ezekiel 27. Indeed, this last passage also points generally to the many ingenious inventions and arts with which the ancient Hebrews were acquainted.