CRAFT WORKERS
CRAFT WORKERS
Among the crafts workers mentioned in the Bible are metal-workers (Exo 31:3-4; Isa 44:12; Isa 54:16; Jer 10:9; 2Ti 4:14), carpenters (2Sa 5:11; Isa 44:13; Mar 6:3), wood-carvers (Exo 31:5; 1Ki 6:32), stone-workers (2Sa 5:11; 1Ki 6:7), jewellers (Exo 28:11; Exo 31:5), potters (Isa 41:25; Jer 18:1-4), spinners and weavers (Exo 35:25; Job 7:6; Isa 19:9), dyers (Exo 26:1; 2Ch 2:7; Act 16:14), tanners (Exo 26:14; Mat 3:4; Act 9:43) and tent-makers (Gen 4:20; Act 18:3). Tools that these craft workers used are also mentioned occasionally (Gen 4:22; 1Sa 13:20; 1Ki 6:7; 1Ki 7:9; 2Ki 6:5; Isa 41:7; Jer 23:29).
People of the same craft, along with their families, usually lived in the same part of a town or village (1Ch 4:21; Neh 11:35). Their common interests naturally produced a strong social bond. This was well demonstrated on one occasion in Ephesus. When Pauls preaching resulted in many idol worshippers being converted, the silversmiths saw him as a threat to their livelihood and used their collective power to oppose him vigorously (Act 19:24-27). See also WORK.