The Money, Weights and Measures mentioned in the Old and New Testament; with their Value, and how much it is in English current Money, either in Gold or Silver.
THere are three sorts or kinds of Shekels, and also of Talents, often mentioned in the Scriptures of Truth.
First, the Common Shekel, which was a quarter of an Ounce; wor h fifteen Pence.
The King's Shekel weighed three Drachms or Drams, there being Eight in an Ounce; three being worth One Shilling, ten Pence, half penny.
The Shekel of the Sanctuary or Temple, weighed four Drams, or [Page 6] half an Ounce; worth two Shillings, six Pence.
Also there are Three sorts of Talents. The Common Talent, which weighed three thousand quarters of Ounces or Common Shekels, which is six thousand Drams; and is one hundred eighty seven Pounds, ten Shillings.
The King's Talent weighed three thousand of the Kings Shekels, which is nine thousand Drams; and is two hundred eighty one Pounds, five Shillings.
The Talent of the Temple weighed three thousand Shekels of the Temple, which is so many half Ounces; which comes to three hundred seventy five Pounds.
A Silverling, or piece of Silver often mentioned, is worth two Shillings, six Pence.
The Common Shekel of Gold, is two Drams; worth fifteen Shillings.
The King's Shekel of Gold is three Drams, worth one Pound, two Shillings, six Pence.
The Shekel of Gold of the Temple is four Drams, or half an Ounce; worth one Pound, ten Shillings.
The Common Talent of Gold, is worth two thousand two hundred and fifty Pounds.
The Kings Talent of Gold, is worth three thousand three hundred seventy five Pounds.
The Talent of the Sanctuary or Temple, is worth four thousand five hundred Pounds.
The Gold being weighed by such Weight as Silver is, which is by Troy Weight.
Now follows what the Money thro' the whole Scripture is worth, with the Names of the Chapters, and Verse or Verses where it is mentioned.
Genesis 20.16. And to Sarah, King Abimelech said, I have given to thy Brother one thousand pieces of Silver; which were called Silverlings; is one hundred [Page 8] twenty five Pounds, two Shillings, six Pence.
Gen. 23.16. And Abraham bought a Burying-place for four hundred Shekels of Silver, current Money with the Merchant, which were common Sh [...]kels; is twenty five Pounds.
Genesis 24.22. That the man took a Golden Ear-Ring of half a Shekel weight; is seven Shillings, six Pence. And two Bracelets for her Hands, of ten Shekels weight of Gold; is seven Pounds, ten Shillings.
Gen. 37.28. Joseph's Brethren sold him for twenty pieces of Silver; which is two Pounds, ten Shillings.
Gen. 45.22. He gave to Be [...]jamin three hundred pieces of Silver; is thirty seven Pounds, ten Shillings.
Exodus 25.39. Of a Talent of pure Gold shall he make with all these Vessels; is four thousand five hundred Pounds.
Exod. 30.23. Every one that was numbred to give half a Shekel of the Sanctuary; is one shilling, three pence.
Exod. 38.24. All the Gold that was occupied, even the Gold of the [Page 9] Offering, was twenty nine Talents and seven hundred thirty Shekels, after the Shekel of the Sanctuary; is one hundred thirty one thousand five hundred fifty five Pounds.
Verse 25. And the Silver of them that was numbred of the Congregation, was one hundred Talents and seven hundred seventy five Shekels, after the Shekel of the Sanctuary; comes to thirty seven thousand seven hundred twenty one Pounds, seventeen Shillings, six Pence.
Numbers 7.12, 13, 14. And he that offered his Offering, the first was Nashon the Son of Aminadab; one Silver Charger weighed one hundred Shekels of the Sanctuary; is twelve Pounds, ten Shillings. One Silver Bowle seven Shekels, is eight Pounds, fifteen Shillings. One Golden Spoon ten Shekels, is fifteen Pounds. So the worth of the Gold and Silver which one Prince offered, is thirty six Pounds five Shillings. So the whole Offerings of the twelve Princes in Gold and Silver, Chargers, Bowles [Page 10] and Spoons, amounts unto four hundred thirty five Pounds.
Numb. 31.32. And all the Offerings that were Offered to the Lord of the Captains of Thousands and Hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred fifty Shekels of Gold of the Sanctuary; is twenty five thousand one hundred twenty five Pounds. Read the 31 Chapter of Numbers, it's worth observation.
Joshua 6.20, 21. And Achan said, I have Sinned, when I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish Garinen [...], and two hundred Shekels of Silver, &c. which are Common; is twelve Pounds, ten Shillings. And a Wedge of Gold of fifteen Shekels, which were Common; is eleven Pounds, five Shillings.
Judges 8.26. And the weight of the Golden Ear-rings which he requested, was one thousand seven hundred Shekels of Gold, which were Common; comes to one thousand two hundred seventy five Pounds.
Judges 9.4. And they gave him seventy pieces of Silver; is eight Pounds, fifteen Shillings.
Judges 16.5. And the Lords of the [...] [Page 15] pounds, twelve shillings, eleven pence.
Vers. 20. And there came up a Chariot from Egypt for six hundred Shekels; is fifty six pounds, five shillings. And a Horse for one hundred & fifty Shekels of Silver, is fourteen pounds, one shilling, three pence.
1 Kings 16.24. And he bought the Hill Samaria of Shemer for two Talents of Silver; is five hundred sixty two pounds, ten shillings, the Kings Talent.
1 Kings 20. Then thy Life shall be for his Life, or else thou shalt pay a Talent of silver, &c. being a Common Talent, is one hundred eighty seven pounds, ten shillings.
2 Kings 5.23. And Naman said, Be content, take two Talents of Silver &c. which is the Kings Talent; is five hundred sixty two pounds ten shillings.
2 Kings 6.29 A great Famine in Samaria, and they besieged it until an Asses Head was sold for fourscor [...] pieces of Siver; which is ten pounds: And the fourth part of a Cab of Doves-Dung, which is half a Pint, for five pieces of Silver, which is [Page 16] twelve shilings, six pence. They used the Doves-Dung instead of Salt.
2 Kings. 7.1. Then Elisha said, Hear the Word of the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a Measure of fine Flower be sold for a Shekel, which is one shilling three pence; and two Measures of Barly for a Shekel, &c. A Measure being a Bushel: It came to pass as the Man of God had said.
2 Kings 15.19, 20. And Menahem gave Pul a thousand Talents of Silver; is two hundred eighty one thousand two hundred & fifty pounds. He exacted of each Man that was Wealthy, fifty Shekels; is three pounds two shillings six pence.
1 Chron. 21.25. David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred Shekels of Gold by weight, the Shekel of the Sanctuary; is nine hundred Pounds.
1 Chron. 22.14. Now behold in my Troubles I have prepared for the House of the Lord, one hundred thousand [...]alents of Gold, which amounts unto, being of the Sanctuary, forty five thousand Millions current English [Page 17] Money. And a thousand thousand Talents of Silver; which is in English current Money, thirty seven Millions five hundred thousand Pounds
1 Chron. 29.7. And gave for the service of the House, of Gold, five thousand Talents, and ten thousand Drams, according to the Talent of the Sanctuary; is two millions two hundred fifty three thousand seven hundred and fifty Pounds. And of Silver, ten thousand Talents; which is three millions seven hundred and fifty thousand Pounds, English current Money. And of Brass, eighteen thousand Talents; which is in weight, two millions two hundred and fifty thousand Pounds; which is one thousand four Tun, and nine hundred thirty two Pounds. And of Iron, one hundred thousand Talents; which is in weight twelve Millions five hundred thousand Pounds; which is five thousand five hundred seventy nine Tun, eleven hundred seventy eight Pounds.
2 Chron. 3.8. And he over-laid it with fine Gold, amounting to six hundred Talents of the Sanctuary; is [Page 18] two Millions seven hundred thousand Pounds.
Verse 9. And the weight of the Nails was fifty Shekels of Gold; is seventy five Pounds.
2 Chron. 8.18. And they took from Ophir four hundred and fifty Talents of Gold, and brought them to King Solomon; which is one Million five hundred and eighteen thousand seven hundred and fifty Pounds.
2 Chron. 9.9. And she gave the King one hundred and twenty Talents of Gold; according to the Kings Talent, is four hundred and five thousand Pounds.
Verse 13. Now the weight of Gold that came to King Solomon in one Year, was six hundred sixty six Talents; amounts to, according to the Kings Talent, two Millions two hundred forty seven thousand seven hundred and fifty Pounds, English current Money.
Verse 15. And King Solomon made two hundred Targets of beaten Gold, six hundred Shekels of Gold to one Target, which is nine hundred Pounds [Page 19] worth of Gold to one Target. The worth of Gold to the three hundred Targets, amounts unto one hundred and eighty thousand Pounds.
Verse 16. And three hundred Shields made he of beaten Gold, three hundred Shekels went to one Shield, which is four hundred and fifty Pounds. The worth of Gold to the three hundred Shields, is one hundred thirty five thousand Pounds, according to the Shekel of the Sanctuary.
2 Chron. 2.56. And he hired one hundred thousand Mighty Men of Valour, out of Israel, for one hundred Talents of Silver, the Kings Talent; is twenty eight thousand one hundred twenty five Pounds English.
2 Chron. 27.5. And the Children of Ammon gave him, the same Year, one hundred Talents of Silver, being Common; is eighteen thousand seven hundred and fifty Pounds English.
2 Chron 36.4. And condemned the Land in an hundred Talents of Silver, being Common; is eighteen thousand seven hundred and fifty Pounds.
Jeremiah 32.9. And I weighed him the Money, even seventeen Shekels of Silver, &c. being Common, is twenty one Shillings, three Pence.
Hosea 3.2. So I Bought her unto me for fifteen pieces of Silver, &c. is one Pound, seventeen Shillings and six Pence.
Thus far the Old-Testament.
Matthew 18.24. One was brought to him which owed him ten thousand Talents, which was forgiven him; being Common Talents, comes to one million eight hun [...]red seventy five thousand Pounds. One of his Fellow-Servants owed him one hundred Pence, called Drachma, seven Pence half penny; is three Pound two Shillings six Pence, which he would not forgive his Fellow-Servant.
Matth. 17.27. And take up the Fish that first cometh up, and when thou hast opened his Mouth, thou shalt find a piece of Money, that take and give them for me and thee, &c. Which piece of [Page 21] Money is called a S [...]ater; it is half an Ounce of Silver, which is two Shillings.
Matth. 22.19. And they shewed him a Penny; which is seven Pence half penny.
Ma th. 25.15. To one he gave five Talents; supposed Common, is nine hundred thirty seven Pounds, ten Shillings. To another two Talents, is three hundred seventy five Pounds. To another one, which is one hundred eighty seven Pounds, ten Shillings
Matth. 20.5. He agreed with the Labourers for a Penny a Day; which is seven Pence half penny, being the Roman-Penny.
Matth. 26.15. And they covenanted with Judas for Thirty pieces of Silver, called also Silverlings, being half an Ounce of Silver; is two Shillings, six Pence; which comes to three Pounds fifteen Shillings.
The Measures Mentioned in the Scripture.
There are divers kinds of Cubits.
1. The Common Cubit, was from the Elboe to the long fingers end, or a Foot and half, or half a Yard,
2. The King's Cubit, one and twenty Inches, or a Hand's breadth more than the Common.
3. The Cubit of the Sanctuary, contains two of the Common, being a full Yard.
4. A Geometrical Cubit, contains six Common Cubits, which is three Yards: According to this Cubit it's thought Noah's Ark was built.
A Reed is six Common Cubits, [Page 23] and a Hand's breadth, which is three Inches.
A Pace is five Foot.
A Furlong is one hundred twenty five Paces, or forty Perch.
A Mile is one thousand Paces, or eight Furlongs: But in the Scripture or Hebrew, as much as a Man can go in half a day, or between Meal and Meal.
Judges 20.16. Among all this People, there were seven hundred chosen Men left, which could Sling at a Hairs breadth, and not miss.
Now a Hairs breadth is the forty eighth part of an Inch. Twelve Inches is a Foot. Sixteen Foot and an half is a Perch. Forty Perch is a Furlong. Eight Furlongs is a Mile.
A Sabbath-days Journey, according to Scripture, is six hundred [...]aces.
The Measures Mentioned in the Scripture.
First of Dry,
A Cab is a Quart.
An Omer is a Quart and half.
A Seath is a Gallon and half.
An Ephath is half a Bushel and a Pottle.
Half an Homer is seven Bushels and a Quart.
An Homer or Cor is fourteen Bushels and a Pottle.
A Chenix, by some counted three Pints five Ounces and half, by others a Quart.
The Liquid or Wet Measures.
A Log is half a Pint.
A Hin is three Quarts.
A Bath is nine Gallons three Quarts.
A Poe or Sextary is a Pint and half.
A Firkin is four Gallons and half.
Of Legion.
We read in the Scripture of Legion, as Mark 5.9. He asked him, What is thy Name. And he answered, saying, My Name is Legion, for we are many, &c.
Matth. 26.53. Thinkest thou that I cannot now Pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than Twelve Legions of Angels, &c. Twelve Legions is eighty thousand seven hundred and fifty.
So Luke 8.30. And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy Name? And and he said, Legion; because many Devils [Page 26] were entred into him. And if a Legion consisted of so many, as is mentioned, as it follows, then they were possest with some Thousands of Devils: For a Legion at that time was six thousand Foot-Men, and seven hundred and thirty Horse-Men.
Romulus, who built Rome, his Legion consisted of three thousand Foot-Men, and three hundred Horse-Men.
Afterwards a Legion was four thousand two hundred Foot-Men, and three hundred Horse-Men.
After, in Julius Caesar's time, which was about one hundred and fifty Years before Christ, a Legion was five thousand Foot, and three hundred Horse-Men.
Lisey and Isodor say, a Legion consisted of six thousand Armed Men. Hesych saith, a Legion was an Army of six thousand six hundred sixty and six.
Afterwards a full and perfect Legion consisted of six thousand Foot-Men, and seven hundred and thirty Horse-Men, of the Common Soldiers.
Of Offices and Conditions of Men.
Patriarch, is a Father of the Family, as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his Sons. Judges, Temporary, or for a time, supream Governours appointed over the Children of Israel, King over a Nation, or Kings after the falling of the ten Tribes of Israel. Elders, or Senators, the seventy; or Sanhedrim, Officers, Provists or Sheriffs. Judges or Rulers, such as determined Controversies in particular Cities. Hebrews, from Abraham. An Israelite, from Jacob, who was named Israel; called Children of Israel. A Proseiite of the Covenant, who submitted to the Law, and was Circumcised. A Proselite of the Gate, or Stranger, who Worshiped the true God, but was not Circumcised. The Officer or Governour, appointed by the Kings of Assyria and Persia. Heads of the People in Captivity, or chief of [Page 28] each Tribe, or many who exercised under others Government, during the Captivity. Under the Grecian Monarchy the Maccabees, or the Successors of Judas Maccabeas. High-Priest, who presided in Kingly Government or Power under the Roman Emperors. Presidents or Governours, sent from Rome with Imperial Power. Tetrarches, who had Kingly Power over some Provinces. Proconsuls or Deputies of Provinces, Inferior Officers. Publicans, who were Tribute or Tax-gatherers, hated of the Jews. Centurion, Captain of an hundred Men. Political Officers, or Sects of Men. High-Priest, who only might enter into the Holy of Holies. Priest, or Sagan, who supplied the High-Priest's Office, in case he were disabled; some set apart for the War for expedition. The Sons of Aaron, who had divers Ranks, Degrees and Offices in the Temple. Also the sons of Levi, who were of three Ranks and Orders, Gershomites, Chohothites, M [...]rarites. Also N [...]thimins, Inferior Servants of the Priests and Levites, not of their Tribe, to [Page 29] draw Water and cleave Wood. Prophets, who were antiently called Seers, who fore-told things to come; and denounced Gods Judgments against Idolaters and Evil-Doers: And taught the People. Children of the Prophets, their Disciples or Scholars. Wise Men, called so, in imitation of the Wise Men of the East, or Gentile Philosophers. Scribes, Writers and Expounders of the Law. Disputers, raised and determined Questions out of the Law. Rabbies, Doctors or Teachers of Israel. Libertius, or freed Men of Rome, who being Jews, or Proselites, had a Synagogue, or Oratory for themselves. Gaulenits, or Galileans, who pretended it unlawful to obey a Heathen Magistrate. Herodians, who shaped their Religion to the Times, and particularly flattered Herod. Epicureans, who placed their Happiness in Pleasures. Stoicks, who den [...]ed the Liberty of the Will, and pretended all Events were determined by fatal necessity. Simon Magus, Author of the Heresie of the Gnosticks, who taught, That Men, however Virtuous [Page 30] in their Practice, should be saved by their Knowledge. Nicholaitans, the Disciples of Nicholas, one of the seven Deacons, who taught the Community of Wifes, or Men to have more than one Wife. Nazarites, who under a Vow abstained from Wine. Nazarens, professing Christianity. Zelots, or Murmerers, who under the pretence of the Law, thought themselves authorized to commit any out-rage. Pharisees, Separatists, who upon the Opinion of their Godliness despised others. Sadduces, who denyed the Resurection, Angel or Spirit. Samaritans, Mungrel Professors, partly Heathen, and partly Jews; the offspring of the Assyrians, who were sent to Samaria. Apostle, mission, or sent; our Saviour had twelve, and after those seventy, and sent them to Preach the Gospel, and heal all manner of Diseases. Bishops, or Overseers: And their Successors, who had the Goverment of the Church, as they are mentioned in the Epistles of Paul and Peter. Also Deacons, who were to Preach the Gospel, and take care of the Poor.
In the Old-Testament or Bible, are seven Hundred seventy seven Chapters.
In the New-Testament, Two Hundred and sixty Chapters.
In the Apocrypha, One Hundred & seventy three Chapters.
In the Old-Testament are Verses, twenty three Thousand two Hundred and three.
Several Books mentioned in the Scriptures of Truth, supposed to be lost.
The Book of Enoch. Of Iddo and Gad, Seers.
Samuel wrote a Book of the Office and Instruction of a King.
Solomon wrote a Book of Three Thousand Parables, and five thousand Songs. Also of the Nature of Herbs, Trees, and Plants, from the Cedar to the Hysop.
A Book of the Cronicles of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
The Third to the Corinthians.
The Third Epistle of Peter.
The worth of Gold by Troy-weight.
One Pound of Gold is worth Forty Pound.
One Ounce is worth three Pound six Shillings eight Pence.
One Grain, worth three half Pence.
The worth of Silver by Troy-weight.
One Pound, is worth three Pounds.
One Ounce, worth five Shillings.
One Penny-Weight, worth three Pence.
One Grain, worth a half Penny. This being the Weight of current Money.
By Averdupoise-weight, One Pound of Gold is worth forty nine Pound thirteen Shillings eight Pence half Penny.
One Pound of Silver by Averdupoise-weight, worth three Pound fifteen Shillings eight Pence half Penny.
By this it appears, One Hundred Pound of Silver, weighs twenty six Pound five Ounces Averdupoise.
And one Hundred Pound of Gold Money, weighs two Pound and about a quarter of an Ounce.
Of Days and Hours.
Days are called either Natural or Artificial; a Day Natural is one entire Revolution of the Sun, or Equinoctial about the Earth, which is performed in 24 hours, containing both day and night; now this day hath several beginnings; as we English and the Romans usuall, begin at midnight, the Persians, Bohemians and Babylonians, begin at Sun-rising; the Jews, Egyptians, Athenians, [Page 34] Ʋmbrians, &c. begin at Sun-set, (which doth appear to be the true beginning by the Scriptures, where the Night is put first, as Gen. 1.5, 8, 13, 19, &c. Lev. 23.32. 2 Cor. 11.25.) The Astronomers begin at mid-day or noon.
An Artificial day is from Sun-rising to Sun-setting, and differs in length of equal hours, according to the Suns place in the Zodiack, and Latitude of the Region; but in unequal hours (called Planetary hours) there is always 12, so that one hour is the 12th part of a day, be it long or short, and these hours we read of in Scriptures, John 11.9. Mat. 20 for at or about Jerusalem, where great part of it was writ, the Latitude is about 33 degrees, which gives above 14 equal hours for the longest Artificial day, therefore we may easily perceive that it was ment the unequal hours: Their day also was divided into 4 equal parts, or large hours.
| Scripture | large | hours | I. | III. | VI. | IX. |
| small | 1, 2, 3. | 4, 5, 6. | 7, 8, 9. | 10, 11, 12. |
And with us they are 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. So their 3d hour was the midst of the Forenoon, and 6th hour full noon, and 9th hour mid Afternoon, and 12th hour Sun-set, Mark 15.25, 34. Luke 23.44. Acts 2.15. and 10.3, 30.
Of Night-watches.
They divided the Night also into 4 equal parts, called Watches, allowing 3 hours to every Watch, which makes the Night likewise to consist of 12 hours, Mark. 13.35.
The first Watch began at Evening, and was till their third hour, (or our ninth) at Night.
The second, or middle Watch, was from thence to Midnight, Judges 7.19. Luke 12.38.
The third Watch, or Cock-crowing [Page 36] was from Midnight till their 9th hour (or our third hour) in the Morning, Luke 12.38.
The fourth Watch, was from that time until Morning, or Sun rising, Mark 6.48.