Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
The word nechosheth is improperly translated by “brass.” In most places of the Old Testament
the correct translation would be copper, although it may sometimes possibly mean bronze a
compound of copper and tin. Indeed a simple metal was obviously intended, as we see from (8:9;
33:25; Job 28) Copper was known at a very early period. (Genesis 4:22)
Brazen Serpent
[Serpent]
Bread
The preparation of bread as an article of food dates from a very early period. (Genesis 18:6)
The corn or grain employed was of various sorts. The best bread was made of wheat, but “barley”
and spelt were also used. (John 6:9,13; Isaiah 28:25) The process of making bread was as follows:
the flour was first mixed with water or milk; it was then kneaded with the hands (in Egypt with the
feet also) in a small wooden bowl or “kneading-trough” until it became dough. (Exodus 12:34,39;
2 Samuel 13:3; Jeremiah 7:18) When the kneading was completed, leaven was generally added
[Leaven]; but when the time for preparation was short, it was omitted, and unleavened cakes, hastily
baked, were eaten as is still the prevalent custom among the Bedouins. ((Genesis 18:6; 19:3; Exodus
12:39; Judges 6:19; 1 Samuel 28:24) The leavened mass was allowed to stand for some time,
(Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21) the dough was then divided into round cakes, (Exodus 29:23; Judges
7:13; 8:5; 1 Samuel 10:3; Proverbs 6:26) not unlike flat stones in shape and appearance, (Matthew
7:9) comp. Matt 4:8 About a span in diameter and a finger’s breadth in thickness. In the towns
where professional bakers resided, there were no doubt fixed ovens, in shape and size resembling
those in use among ourselves; but more usually each household poured a portable oven, consisting
of a stone or metal jar, about three feet high which was heated inwardly with wood, (1 Kings 17:12;
Isaiah 44:15; Jeremiah 7:18) or dried grass and flower-stalks. (Matthew 6:30)
Breastplate
[Arms, Armor]
Brethren Of Jesus
[James The Less]
Brick
(Genesis 11:3) The brick in use among the Jews were much larger than with us, being usually
from 12 to 13 inches square and 3 1/2 inches thick; they thus possess more of the character of tiles.
(Ezekiel 4:1) The Israelites, in common with other captives, were employed by the Egyptian
monarchs in making bricks and in building. (Exodus 1:14; 5:7) Egyptian bricks were not generally
dried in kilns, but in the sun. That brick-kilns were known is evident from (2 Samuel 12:31; Jeremiah
43:9) When made of the Nile mud they required straw to prevent cracking. [See Straw]
Bride, Bridegroom
[Marriage]
Brigandine
(Jeremiah 46:4) elsewhere “habergeon,” or “coat of mail.”
Brimstone
Brimstone, or sulphur, is found in considerable quantities on the shores of the Dead Sea. (Genesis
19:24) It is a well-known simple mineral substance, crystalline, easily melted, very inflammable,
and when burning emits a peculiar suffocating odor. It is found in great abundance near volcanoes.
The soil around Sodom and Gomorrah abounded in sulphur and bitumen.
Brother
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William Smith