Iron in the Book of Genesis
The Book of Genesis mentions Tubal Cain, who was: "a forge of every tool of brass and iron."
But according to archaeological findings, iron only came into human use around the 12th century – does the rabbi have an answer for that?
Do you mean the 12th century BCE? I can offer all sorts of interpretations, but I'm not really interested in the Bible. You can ask on the 'Knowing to Believe' website.
“Prehistoric” iron
The archaeological facts: As early as 3200 BC, beads made of meteoric iron-nickel were found in the Garza tomb in Egypt; similar objects were also discovered in Turkey, Syria, China, and in the tomb of Tutankhamun. The biblical-literary context: The text presents Tubal-Cain as the “father” of craftsmen; it is not necessary that this refers to the production of iron in a furnace – even the processing of rare meteoric iron can be perceived as advanced technology. Significance regarding the contradiction: The verse may refer to the processing of rare meteoric iron, not to regular industry.
The meaning of the word “iron”
The archaeological facts: In the Bible, “iron” is used as a general name for the hardest metal available; already in ancient texts it represents a material more advanced than copper and bronze. The biblical-literary context: The term may have been used as a general term for “hard metal,” not specifically for what we now call Iron from the 12th century BCE. Significance of the contradiction: It is not necessary to identify “iron” in Genesis with iron from the archaeological Iron Age; it may be a broader term.
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