An iron pen; of which also there is mention Jeremiah 17:1. And lead; or, or lead; or, with lead; the particle and being oft so used, as Genesis 4:20 Exodus 1:6 Jeremiah 22:7. For this lead may be either,
1. The writing pen, which might be either of iron or of lead; for though lead be of itself too soft, yet there was an art of tempering lead with other metals to such a degree of hardness that it could pierce into a rock; as they did-also temper brass, so that they could make bows and swords of it. Or,
2. The writing table; for the ancients did use to write divers things in lead, as is well known. Or,
3. The writing ink, as I may call it; for they used to grave the letters in a stone with an iron tool, and then to fill up the cuts or furrows made in the stone with lead, that the words might be more plainly seen and read.