was called Mercury, Lead Saturn, Tin Jupiter, Copper Venus, Silver
Luna, and so on; and our own language has received a colouring from
the Roman nomenclature, which it continues to retain.
...]
We find frequent mention of it in the Bible. One of the earliest
notices of the metal is in connexion with the conquest of Judea by
the Philistines. To complete the subjection of the Israelites, their
conquerors made captive all the smiths of the land, and carried them
away. The Philistines felt that their hold of the country was
insecure so long as the inhabitants possessed the means of forging
weapons. Hence "there was no smith found throughout all the land of
Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords
or spears. But the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to
sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his
mattock."*
[footnote...
I. Samuel xiii. 19, 20.
...]

At a later period, when Jerusalem was taken by the Babylonians, one
of their first acts was to carry the smiths and other craftsmen
captives to Babylon.*
[footnote...
II. Kings xxiv. 16.
...]
Deprived of their armourers, the Jews were rendered comparatively
powerless.

It was the knowledge of the art of iron-forging which laid the
foundation of the once great empire of the Turks. Gibbon relates that