Gold

(Gen. 2:11, 12) — a metal of very hard composition, beautiful in appearance, and precious. “The name of the first is Pison,” relates the sacred historian, “that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; and the gold of that land is good” (Gen. 2:11, 12). This is the first homeland of gold indicated in Holy Scripture, and is contemporary with creation itself; but where this land of Havilah, encircled by the river Pison, was located, remains an unresolved question to this day.

At present gold is found chiefly in Africa, South America, India, the island of Ceylon, Siberia, and other places. The lands noted for their abundance of gold, mentioned in Holy Scripture, are the following: Ophir (gold of Ophir) (Job 28:16), Parvaim, thought to be Ceylon (2 Chron. 3:6) (gold of Parvaim), Sheba and Raamah (Ezek. 27:22), and Uphaz (Jer. 10:9). The use of gold was very widespread among the Hebrews. Many parts of the tabernacle and the temple, its furnishings, and the sacred vessels, were made of this precious metal or overlaid with it (Exod. 36:34, 38; 1 Kings 7:48–50).

It was likewise used for making various costly items, such as coins, earrings, bracelets, rings, chains, and the like. Two hundred large shields and three hundred smaller ones were made by Solomon of beaten gold (1 Kings 10:16, 17). In Solomon’s days silver was accounted as almost nothing. At the feast of Ahasuerus, in the royal palace, gold and silver couches adorned the hall for the guests (Esth. 1:7). The abundance of gold in these ages so distant from us, according to the descriptions, surpasses almost all credibility.

The Hebrews also possessed the art of refining gold, as the prophet Zechariah says of this: “And I will refine them as silver is refined,” says the LORD through the prophet, of the third part of the Jews (13:9). In a figurative sense the word “gold” is often used by the sacred writers to denote the power of spiritual gifts (Job 28:15), of the LORD’s commandments (Ps. 19:10 [18:11]) — “more to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold” (Ps. 19:10 [18:11]) — of the lips of the wise and of knowledge (Prov. 20:15), of tried faith (1 Pet. 1:7), and of redemption (v. 18).

In the book of the prophet Isaiah (13:12) gold serves as a symbol of might and wealth, and for this reason the Babylonian empire is represented under the image of a head of gold (Dan. 2:38).