RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Weights and Measures
for its standards proceed in regular geometrical ratio—1, 10, 20, 40, (80), 160 hin. The Babylonian system rests upon a sexagesimal basis; even though no direct inscriptional data confirm this, all that is known of Persian, Phenician, and, Syrian-Hebrew measures of capacity is consonant with the supposition that all these systems are one in their main features with the Babylonian, the source of them all. A means of calculation is afforded by the fact that in quite early times the Babylonians defined their measures of capacity by the weight of water or wine.
lation to spices (Ex. xxx. 23), food (Ezek. iv. 10), and Absalom’s hair (II Sam. xiv. 26); always the mention is of the shekel or its multiple [or parts]. As an instrument of weighing the balance is named (Hebr. mo’zenayim, Lev. xix. 36; Job vi.2; Prov. xi.1, etc.) also the Hebr. peles, or kaneh (Prov. xvi., 11; Isa. xlvi. 6). The weights were usually of stone (Lev. xix. 36; Deut. xxxv. 13, etc.), which lost less by abrasion and rust than metals, though lead is named in Zech. v. 7. The standard of reference was
I. The Shekel.
Dry Measure.
log =.506 liter [= 4lozg= Icab = 24log = 6cab =
.4 quart| 2.024 liters [=
72 log = 18 cab 720 log = 180 cab
3 seah= 1 30 seah = 10
1 seah = 12.148 liters [= 11
1.8 quarts] quarts] ephah = 36.44 liters [= 3 ephah= 1
pecks] homer = 364.4 liters [= 74 bushels]
Liaguim MEASURE.
I
log
4 log 12 log 72 log 720 log
-506 liter [: -4 quart] 1 hinge — 6 in — hin =
cab
eae ae] tl ad
fer) (=)
Thus the unit of the system was a measure (the Persian maris) which would contain water the equivalent in weight of a royal talent (which we would fix at 30.3 kilograms [=66.78 lbs.] were it not that the temperature of water in the Hast is higher than the temperature assumed in reckoning the standard liter; an approximate reckoning, taking this into account, places the value at 30.37 liters). Only approximate and theoretical conclusions may be looked for in this field. The maris was probably divided into six parts, resulting in the following table.
It is not necessary to look very far in order to see that the incorporation of the decimal system here (5 and 10 hin, 10 bath) is only apparent, and that the sexagesimal system rules; the basis is seen in
4 mina = 12 mina
1 kapithe
3 kapithe 1 hin
2.024 liters [= 2.13 quarts] 6.074 liters [= bath 10 bath
6.78 quarts] = 36.44 liters [= [10.1 gallons] = 1 kor =8364.4 liters [= 101.4 gallons)
the shekel, and in II Sam. xiv. 26 the royal shekel is named; by this is meant not a special standard differing from that in common use, but the implication is rather that of a normalized standard. The priestly codex speaks of a “‘ shekel of the sanctuary ” (Ex. xxx. 13, 24, and often). The shekel is divided into halves (beka‘; Gen. xxiv. 22) and fourths (I Sam. ix. 8), which are met as pieces of silver money belonging in the system of weights, since in those times a system of money [coins] had not been worked out as distinct from the system of weights. On the other hand, the “ third part of a shekel”’ of Neh. x. 32 is rather a value than a definite weight in common use, and it is to be regarded as in connection with the introduction of a system of money. In Ezekiel (xlv. 12) there is mention of a gera (“ grain’’) or
6 kapithe 2 hin 15 kapithe 5 hin
18 kapithe = 6 hin
1 saton 24 sata 3 sata
24 mina = 60 mina = 72 mina =
1 bath
120 mina 30 kapithe = 10 hin
720 mina
the relations of the mina. The identity with the Hebrew system is clear, except that in the latter the measures of 160 and 120 log are missing; comparison shows that one may equate the Hebrew log with the Babylonian mina. The other possibility would be to equate the log with the sextarius, which would make the homer equal to 393.95 liters; but the very complete agreement of the Hebrew and the Babylonian systems render departure from the position taken above unnecessary.
IV. Weights: In this department also the data given by the Old Testament are scanty. Apart from connection with the noble metals, which were weighed out in payments, definition of weights is seldom found. Incidental mention is found in re-
5 sata 180 kapithe = 60 hin = 30 sata
13 bath = 1 metretes = 10 bath = 6 metretes =1 kor
the twentieth of a shekel as a money standard, belonging therefore to a mintage system; wherever it appears elsewhere, it is as part of a system by which payment is made on the basis of the shekel (not the silver shekel; cf. on these matters Benzinger, Archdologie, pp. 196 sqq.). As multiples of the shekel are named the mina (maneh) and the talent. It is interesting to note respecting the mina that before the time of Ezekiel it is not mentioned (I Kings x. 17, the minim of the Hebrew text is to be changed to me’oth, “ three hundred ” [shekels]), as shown by the figures in Judges viii. 26; I Sam. xvii. 5, 7; II Sam. xxi. 16, xiv. 26; II Chron. iti. 9, where the weights are given in shekels, not in minas. So in later times when the mention is of minas, the discussion is of
Weights and Measures Weihbischof