For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver,
and for wood brass, and for stones iron
By "wood and stones" may be meant the Old Testament dispensation; by the "brass and iron" the present Gospel dispensation; and by "silver and gold" the latter day glory; by "silver" the spiritual reign of Christ in his church; and by "gold" his personal reign in the New Jerusalem; which is said to be all of pure gold, and even the very street of it, ( Revelation 21:18 Revelation 21:21 ) , now, as far as brass and iron exceed wood and stones, so far the Gospel dispensation exceeds the legal one; the one being the shadow, the other the substance; the one having carnal ordinances, which are done away; the other spiritual ones, which remain; and as far as silver and gold exceed brass and iron, so far the glory of the latter day will exceed the present state of things, in clear light, in spiritual grace and strength, in purity of doctrine and worship, in holiness of life, and in love, peace, and unity; and as far as gold exceeds silver, so far, and much more, will the personal reign of Christ, which will be perfectly glorious, exceed the spiritual one. There may be an allusion to the times of Solomon, a type of Christ, ( 1 Kings 10:27 ) . This, by some Jewish writers F6, is applied to the times of the Messiah they yet expect. The Targum is,
``for the brass which they spoiled thee of, O Jerusalem, I will bring gold''I will also make thine officers peace;