The destruction of the golden calf (Ex 32:20): A materials science perspective
One of the most fascinating and heavily debated episodes involving gold in the Old Testament is the destruction of the golden calf described in Exodus 32:20. This study considers, for the first time, this episode from a materials science perspective. Textual analysis and experimental results indicat...
Authors: | ; ; |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Univ.
2021
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In: |
Verbum et ecclesia
Year: 2021, Volume: 42, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-7 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Exodus 32,20
/ Gold
/ Destruction
/ Technics
/ Bottom–up and top–down design
|
IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament |
Further subjects: | B
golden calf
B top-down approach B Exodus B Grinding B MATERIALS science |
Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
Summary: | One of the most fascinating and heavily debated episodes involving gold in the Old Testament is the destruction of the golden calf described in Exodus 32:20. This study considers, for the first time, this episode from a materials science perspective. Textual analysis and experimental results indicate that it is plausible to make a gold mixture fit for later human consumption by using the three steps described in the passage. The results thus suggest that Exodus 32:20 could be an ancient reference to the most commented-upon materials processes of our day: reduce the size of matter through a top-down approach.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article brings for the first time an approach between theological analysis and a support by materials sciences to evaluate the technical viability of the destruction of the golden calf described in Exodus 32:20. It impacts the obtained results and indicates the appropriate use of technical aspects of the writers of this text. |
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ISSN: | 2074-7705 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Verbum et ecclesia
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.4102/ve.v42i1.2175 |