Biblical Hebrew Forum

["K Randolph" <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Dear Havurim:

As someone who as a hobby has done some blacksmithing (it's fun!)
though the latest has been with heavy machinery (lathes and milling
machines), it certainly appears that much of this verse refers to a
smithy.

YWCRYM KTWT one thing that typifies metal work is repeated tapping
with a hammer to mold the metal into shape. I have done this with both
iron and copper, and it is fun to see the shape come out. In both
metals, high heat is needed, which was aided by the use of bellows
which, in ancient times, were often made with skin bags NBL (modern
smithies use a fan). Do these two words refer to the action of
smithing?

MKTT is this the word for smithy?

XR%, should this be XR$ worker? And in this context there is no worker
in the smithy to rake the lit fires (to keep them burning hot)?

GB) as a noun used only once, possibly referring to a quenching or
annealing vat that has water?

Any thoughts?

Karl W. Randolph.