The process of mining is described in Job 28:1-11. Moses speaks of the mineral wealth of Palestine (De 8:9). Job 28:4 is rightly thus rendered in the Revised Version, "He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn; they are forgotten of the foot [that passeth by]; they hang afar from men, they swing to and fro." These words illustrate ancient mining operations.
a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, where thou shalt lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose mountains thou wilt dig copper.
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine; Iron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone. read more. Man putteth an end to the darkness, and exploreth to the utmost limit, the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death. He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants of the earth: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover.
He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants of the earth: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover. As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as by fire; read more. The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold. It is a path no bird of prey knoweth, and the vulture's eye hath not seen it; The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed over it. Man putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock, he overturneth the mountains by the root. He cutteth out channels in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing. He bindeth the streams that they drip not, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.