There is a baffling verse in the Bible suggesting some function for gold in human physiology:
And he took the calf the people had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.
Three entirely enigmatic statements all in a row. Burned gold? It would simply melt, then evaporate. Ground to powder? Gold is notable in that it can be pounded to molecular thinness, so it can't be ground in the conventional sense of cracking it apart. Mixed with water? As a gold panner could tell you, normal flecks of gold would simply sink to the bottom.
No one is said to have gotten ill or died from this, so it doesn't seem to be a punishment. Rather, it seems only a method for destroying their stock of gold to prevent creation of another idol.
We also know that just previous to this, Aaron collected gold jewelry and melted it in a fire to make the calf, so we know it began as gold with which we are all familiar. So what could this verse possibly mean?
The fact that conventional Biblical exegesis is entirely silent on it indicates to me that we are not supposed to think about it. Thus, it's something very important for us to think about.
There is a baffling verse in the Bible suggesting some function for gold in human physiology:
Exodus 32:20 NIV
Three entirely enigmatic statements all in a row. Burned gold? It would simply melt, then evaporate. Ground to powder? Gold is notable in that it can be pounded to molecular thinness, so it can't be ground in the conventional sense of cracking it apart. Mixed with water? As a gold panner could tell you, normal flecks of gold would simply sink to the bottom.
No one is said to have gotten ill or died from this, so it doesn't seem to be a punishment. Rather, it seems only a method for destroying their stock of gold to prevent creation of another idol.
We also know that just previous to this, Aaron collected gold jewelry and melted it in a fire to make the calf, so we know it began as gold with which we are all familiar. So what could this verse possibly mean?
The fact that conventional Biblical exegesis is entirely silent on it indicates to me that we are not supposed to think about it. Thus, it's something very important for us to think about.
I've met people who think copper bracelets are a remedy for arthritis.
A substance loved because of it's inertness has a biological property... Silver I can understand, gold no