Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Iron sharpeneth iron? (Prov. 27:17)
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2005 16:39:48 -0400
B-Haverim,
First off, I have no special preference for welding rather than sharpening
as an explanation of this proverb. I haven't yet seen why, on the other
hand, welding is not a beautiful possibility. Let me advocate for the "road
less travelled":
According to one web site, welding is an ancient art.
1475 BC the tomb of Vizier Rekh-mi-re at Thebes, a wall painting depicts a
brazing operation.
1000 BC Iron and bronze items found in excavations near the pyramids were
forge-welded.
The *difficulty* of the technique of forge welding does not in any way make
it literarily improbable as the figure being employed in Pro 27:17. On the
contrary, the difficulty of the technique may actually be a writer's
incentive for using the figure seeing the proverb is extolling something
special about intimate friendship.
Shalom, Bryan
B. M. Rocine
Living Word Church
6101 Court St. Rd.
Syracuse, NY 13206