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MUSIC-PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE.

the dedication of the walls with singing, cymbals, psalteries, and harps responsively (c. 24, A. V.ward over against ward') as ordered by David. Choirs singing loud with these musical instruments of David the man of God,' and priests with trumpets, lead the two companies, which perambulating the wall converge upon the Temple. (See also Neh. 13. 10, 11).

Job 21. 12. TOPH, KINNOR, UGAB. A. V. Timbrel, Harp, Organ (the 3 possible kinds of instruments). The ancient ugab is coupled with

kinnor in Job 30. 31 as in Gen. 4. 21.

Job 39. 24, 25. SHOPHAR.

The war-horse for joy can hardly trust his ears. Ps. 33. 2, 3. KINNOR, NEBEL-ASOR. A.V. 'Harp, Psaltery' and an instrument of 10 strings.' Ps. 45. 8. MINNI(M).

'Out of ivory palaces hath music made thee glad.' Ps. 47. 5. SHOPHAR.

A.V. Trumpet (cp. Amos 2. 2). God reascends from fighting for His people amid their triumphal shouts, &c. Ps. 49. 4. KINNOR.

A. V. Harp. The Psalmist will proclaim God's message (A. V. dark saying) in song. See 2 Kin. 3. 15. Ps. 57. 8 & 71. 22 & 108, 2. NEBEL, KINNOR. A. V. Psaltery (Pr. Bk. Version lute') and harp. Ps. 68. 25. [KINNOR, TOPH.]

The order of the procession of the Ark (see 1 Chr. 15. 16-28), A. V. thy goings in the sanctuary; the singers go before, the players on instruments' (neginim, kinnors) follow after: in the midst of (Alamoth) damsels playing with timbrels.'

Ps. 81. 1-3. TOPH, KINNOR, NEBEL, SHOPHAR. 'Summons to the Paschal feast' ('new moon'). The people are to shout (cp. Ezra 3. 11); the Levites (2 Chr. 5. 12) to play a psalm with timbrel, harp, and psaltery: the priests to blow the trumpets (Num. 10. 8).

dancers).

Ps. 87.7.

A. V. Players on instruments, (rather, probably,
Ps. 92. 3. NEBEL, ASOR, KINNOR.
A.V. Instrument of 10 strings, Psaltery, Harp with
solemn sound'.

Ps. 98. 5, 6. KINNOR, NEBEL, SHOPHAR,
CHATZÓZERAH.

A. V. 'make a loud noise.... sing with harp and the voice of a psalm', rather, melody (again in Isa. 51. 3 only). With trumpets and cornet' (P.B.V. shawm or shalm Fr. chalumeau, or German schalmei, a reed pipe), see Ps. 81. 1-3; Clap hands,' see 2 K. 11. 12, &c.

Ps. 137. 2. KINNOR.

A. V. Harps. Sorrow stills the national instrument (1 Sam. 16. 23, &c.), formerly associated with joy, as the willow with prosperity (Lev. 23. 40; Job 40. 22; Isa. 44. 4. See Plants). See Isa. 23. 16 & 24. 8. Ezek. 26. 13. Ps. 144. 9. NEBEL ASOR.

A.V. Psaltery of 10 strings-A vow of thanksgiving. Ps. 149. 3. (MACHOL), TOPH, KINNOR. A. V. Praise. in the dance (see Jer. 31. 4. &c.; cp. 2 Sam. 6. 14), with timbrel and harp.

Ps. 150. 3-5. SHOPHAR, NEBEL, KINNOR, TOPH MACHOL), MINNIM, UGAB, TZELTZELIM (2). A. V. Praise Him with Trumpet, Psaltery (harp), Harp (guitar),.... timbrel and dance, with stringed instruments and organs (rather, as Pr. Bk. Version, the pipe', i.e. wind instruments), upon loud....the high sounding, (i.e. smaller, of higher pitch,) cymbals."

Isa. 5. 12. KINNOR, NEBEL, TOPH, HALIL. A. V. The harp, viol (psaltery), tabret, pipe and wine are in their feasts'; so only are the instruments of praise used.

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Isa. 14. 11. NEBEL. A.V. "Thy pomp is brought down to the grave (Sheol), and the noise of thy viols (psalteries)." Isa. 16. 11. KINNOR.

A. V. 'My bowels shall sound like a harp (ie. 'vibrate with thrills of grief') for Moab. Comp. Jer. 48.26. Isa. 18. 3. SHOPHAR.

A.V. Trumpet, when one (A.V. he) bloweth, hear ye. Isa. 23. 16. KINNOR. (Cp. Ezek. 28. 13; Eccles. 9. 3., 4. thou harlot (Tyre) that hast been forgotten; make A. V. Take an harp, go about the city Jerusalem. sweet melody (ie. of the upright, Ps. 3. 1, sing many songs', if thou wouldst be remembered,' te. with favour (Ps. 106. 4). A call to repentance. The Phancian music, and that of revellers and of outcasts or itinerants, is identical in kind with that of the Temple Isa. 24. 8. TOPH, KINNOR. (Comp. Ezek. 26. 13.) The silenced Tabret and Harp denote desolation. Isa. 27. 13. SHOPHAR. (Cp. Lev. 95. 9). The great Trumpet. Restoration to scattered Israel Isa. 30. 29, 32. HALIL, TOPH, KINNOR. A.V. Pipe. The pilgrim bands marching to Ziem headed by a flute player are a type of holy joy ep. Isa. | 51.11; 1 K.1.40): Tabrets & Harps, of triumph & peace. Isa. 58. 1. SHOPHAR. (Jer. 4. 19).

Trumpet like, the prophet should alarm and warm. Jer. 4. 5, 19, 21 & 6. 1. SHOPHAR. A. V. Trumpet. The alarm of war vividly described (cp. Jer. 42. 14. and the war-summons in Jer. 51. 27. Jer. 31. 4. TOPH.

Israel's daughters dancing timbrel in hand represent her restored prosperity: see Ps. 137.9; Lam. 5. 15. Jer. 48. 36. HALIL. (Cp. Isa. 16. 11.

A. V. Pipes. Jeremiah illustrates deep emotion by a wind instrument used at funerals (Matt. 9. ; e perhaps bewails Moab as if already dead.

Ezek. 28. 13. TOPH, (NEKEB).

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A. V. Tabrets, Pipes [NEKEB.] An allusion to Tyre's | great prosperity (tabrets and pipes festivity and the umph) or to the perfection of her musical instrumenta. Ezek. 33. 3-6. SHOPHAR. (Cp. Isa. 58) A. V. Trumpet of the watchman, i.e. God's propbet. Dan. 8.5-15. KEREN, &c. See Babylonish Instrumenta, Hosea 5. 8. CHATZOZERAH, SHOPHAR. A. V. Cornet and Trumpet, signalling an invasion Joel 2. 1, 15. SHOPHAR.

A. V. Trumpet; probably also an allusion to the "Feast of Trumpets', which prepared for the great annual fast, the Day of Atonement.

Amos 2. 2 & 3. 6. SHOPHAR.

Of the (1) conqueror; (2) watchman (Ezek. 33. 5).
Amos 5. 23. NEBEL.
representing Judah's (divided) worship.
Amos 6.5. NEBEL.

A. V. Viola,

A.V. Viol. Samaria's listless and effeminste nobles, improving their instruments of music for luxurious feasting only, are contrasted with David, who devoted his musical talent to God's service: zee 2 Chr. 29. 25. Hab. S. 19. NEGINOTH.

A.V. Stringed instruments. "My," in the dedication of his ode, connects Habakkuk with the Levitical Temple choir and its inspired musicians (see 1 Chr. 95; 2 Chr. 29).

Zeph. 1. 16; Zech. 9. 14. SHOPHAR. A. V. Trumpet of war, i.e. God's judgments. Zech. 14. 20. M'TZILLAH, TZELTZELIM. A. V. Bells (see Exod. 28. 34, 36). The trappings of worldly pomp shall be sanctified (ep. Isa. 23. 18 by the inscription from the High Priest's golden crown. Heliness to the Lord.' The little circular plates of metal on eastern harness are practically small cymbals.

TESTAMENT.

1 Cor. 14. 7. AULOS, CITHARA. A. V Pipe, Harp, in Greek oboe, and lyre or guitar. 1 Cor. 14.8 & 15.52. SALPINX. A. V. Trumpet. The last trump. Salpinx is the Greek synonym in LXX. of the Hebrew shophar [SHOPHAR], see Rev. 1. 10, A. V. a great voice as of a trumpet (cp. ch. 4. 1), and 9. 14, the angel's trumpet.

Rev. 5. 8 & 14. 2. KITHARA.

A.V. Harp: rather, Lyre. (1) The 4 living creatures and the 24 elders sing harps in hand. (2) The Apostle hears a voice from heaven like harp-accompanied voices.

MONEY AND WEIGHTS OF THE BIBLE.

BY F. W. MADDEN, M.R.A.S.

GENERAL REMARKS.

ANCIENT money was of two kinds, uncoined and coined. By uncoined may be understood pieces not issued under an authority, though they may have borne some stamp or impress of their value. By coined may be understood ingots, of which the weight and fineness are certified by the integrity of designs impressed upon the surfaces of the metal (Prof. Jevons, "Money", p. 57).

The first mention in the Bible, after the Flood, of uncoined money is when Abraham came up out of Egypt "very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold" (Gen. xiii. 2; comp. Gen. xxiv. 35). Though this passage does not imply anything more than "bullion ", yet we soon find a notice of the use of money (Heb. silver) as the price paid for a slave (Gen. xvii. 13). The first actual transaction of commerce is the purchase by Abraham of the cave of Machpelah for 400 shekels of silver, current [money] with the merchant (Gen. xxiii. 16); and silver as a medium of commerce appears to have been in general use among the nations of the Philistines (Gen. xx. 16; Judg. xvi. 5, 18; xvii. 2, seq.), the Midianites (Gen. xxxvii. 28), and the Syrians (2 Kings v. 5, 23). By the laws of Moses, men and cattle (Lev. xxvii. 3, seq.; Num. iii, 45, seq.), the possessing houses and fields (Lev. xxvii. 14, seq.), provisions (Deut. ii. 6, 28; xiv. 26), all fines for offences (Exod. xxi. xxii.), the contributions to the Temple (Exod. xxx. 13; xxxviii. 26), the sacrifice of animals (Lev. v. 15), the redemption of the first-born (Num. iii. 47-60; xviii. 15), were estimated and regulated by money value. It is probable that a fixed weight was assigned to single pieces, so as to make them suitable for the various articles presented in trade. The system of weighing (though frequent mention is made of the balance and the weighing of money, Exod. xxii. 17; Lev. xix. 36; Deut. xxv. 13. 15; 2 Sam. xviii. 12; 1 Kings xx. 39; Jer. xxxii. 9, 10; Prov. xi. 1, &c.) is not likely to have been applied to every individual piece. In the large total of 603,550 half-shekels accumulated by the contribution of each Israelite (Exod. xxxviii. 26), each individual half-shekel could hardly have been weighed. Money was sometimes put into a chest, which when full was emptied by the high-priest, and the money was bound up in bags, and then told, perhaps being weighed in the bags (2 Kings xii. 9, 10; comp. 2 Chron. xxiv. 8-11). That there were pieces of different denominations is evident from the passage in Exod. xxx. 13, where the half-shekel is to be paid as the atonement money, and "the rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less" (Exod. xxx. 15). The third part of the shekel is mentioned in Persian times (Neh. x. 32), and the fourth part must have been an actual piece, for it was all the silver that the servant of Saul had to pay the seer (1 Sam. ix. 8. 9). Iron and lead bars of constant form and weight circulated in Egypt; in Greece, bars of iron; in Italy, bars of copper; in Britain, in the time of Julius Caesar, bars of copper and iron; and from the earliest times, gold and silver in the same shape were employed in general traffic in the East. This explains the mention of a wedge (Heb. tongue) of gold found by Achan at Jericho (Josh. vii. 21) [see Talent under WEIGHTS], as well as the different payments which are mentioned in the O. T., and which presuppose with certainty the currency of single pieces of metal according to weight.

It is also probable that a system of "jewel currency" or "ring-money" was in vogue. The case of Rebekah, to whom the servant of Abraham gave "a golden ear-ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight" (Gen. xxiv. 22), proves that the ancient Hebrews made their jewels of a specific weight so as to know the value of these ornaments in employing them for money. That the Egyptians kept their bullion in jewels is evident from their monuments, where they are represented weighing rings of gold and silver, and is further illustrated by the fact of the Israelites having at their exodus from Egypt borrowed "jewels [vessels] of silver and jewels [vessels] of gold" (Keli keseph, Keli zahab), and "spoiled the Egyptians" (Exod. xii. 35, 36; comp. Exod. iii. 22; xi. 2). So too it would appear that the money used by the children of Jacob, when they went to purchase corn in Egypt, was an annular currency (Gen. xlii, 35). Their money is described as "bundles of money", and when returned to them was found to be "of [full] weight" (Gen. xliii. 21). It was therefore of a form capable of being tied up, which receives corroboration from the passage in Deuteronomy (xiv. 24-26), where directions are given as to the payment of the tithes to the sanctuary: "Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thy hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose". The account of the sale of Joseph to the Midianites affords another instance of the employment of jewel ornaments as a medium of exchange (Gen. xxxvii. 28), as we gather from the account in Numbers (xxxi. 50, 51) of the spoiling of the Midianites, that they carried their whole wealth in the forms of chains, bracelets, ear-rings, and tablets. The friends of Job gave him, in addition to "a piece of money" [KESITAH], "an ear-ring of gold” (nezem zahab, LXX. tetradrachmon chrusou kai asēmou-tetradrachm of uncoined gold, Job xlii. 11). Now had these ear-rings of gold not been intended as representing money, all the friends of the patriarch would not have given him the same article, and that in conjunction with a piece of silver.

From these statements, it is evident, firstly, that if the Hebrews became learned in "all the wisdom of the Egyptians" (Acts vii, 22; comp. 1 Kings iv. 30), they did not learn from them the use of money; and secondly, that nowhere in the Pentateuch is there any mention of money that was coined. Nor do the passages in Joshua, Judges, and Job imply an actual coinage, any more than the "piece of silver" [AGORAH] mentioned at the time of Samuel (1 Sam. ii. 36). The reigns of David and Solomon were an era of prosperity for Judæa-“ Silver was in Jerusalem as stones; it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon" (1 Kings x. 21, 27; 2 Chron. ix. 20, 27); still it is certain that there were no real coins, namely, pieces struck under an authority, before the Exile. On the other hand, the Hebrews, as I have shown, must have employed pieces of a definite weight; but the excavations in Palestine have never brought to light an example, any more than the excavations in Egypt, Assyria, and Babylonia. It may, however, be observed that when the pieces of silver were collected for the treasury they were melted down before reissue. It is recorded (2 Kings xxii. 9; comp. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 17) that Shaphan the scribe

MONEY AND WEIGHTS OF THE BIBLE.

came to king Josiah, and said, “Thy servants have gathered together (Heb. melted) the money that was found in the house"; and the same plan was also followed by the Persian king Darius (B.C. 521-455), who melted the gold and silver into earthen vessels, which when full were broken off, leaving the metal in a mass, from which picos were broken off as necessity required.

The oldest coins extant are certain electrum staters of Lydia, probably about B.C. 720, which, issued on different standards, continued in circulation till the time of Croesus, who, on his accession in B.C. 568, reorganised the Lydian coinage, abolished electrum, and issued instead pieces of gold and silver. Before the introduction of coined money into Greece, there was a currency of obeliskol, “spits” or “skewers", probably of iron or copper, six of which made a handful (drachmë), and which were of a considerable size. The first Greek suiver coms were struck at Egina in B.C. 670-660.

The earliest coins mentioned in the Bible are the coins called drams, B.C. 538 [DRAM]. It is supposed by some that Jewish silver shekels and half-shekels were introduced under Ezra, about B.C. 458 [SHEKEL); but it is re probable that they were issued under Simon Maccabeus, B.C. 139 (1 Macc. xv. 6), and copper coins were struck by the Asmonaæan and Herodian family.

The N. T. history falls within the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero, but only Augustus (Luke ii. 1), Tiberius (Luke iii. 1), and Claudius (Acts xi. 28; xviii. 2), are mentioned; but Nero is alluded to i the Acts from chapter xxv. to the end, and in Phil. iv. 22. Coins of all these Emperors would therefore be in

circulation.

The following list embraces all the denominations of money mentioned in the Old and New Testaments:

AGORAH. See Piece of Silver.

BEKAH (Exod. xxxviii. 26). Literally "a half", "half a shekel" about 18. 4d. Extant half-shekels weigh about 110 grains. [HALF A SHEKEL and SHEKEL.] BRASS [Money]. (1) In the O.T. a passage in Ezekiel (xvi. 36, Heb. nechosheth, LXX. Chalkos, Vulgate as, A.V. filthiness) has been supposed to refer to brass money, but with no probability, as this was the latest metal introduced into Greece for money. The Hebrew word probably means something worthless, like "hase metal" (comp. Jer. vi. 28; Ezek. xxii. 18). (2) Chalkos, pecunia (Matt.9). The brass coins current in Palestine in the N.T. period consisted of Roman copper and Greek imperial coins, of the coins of Alexander Jannaeus, of the Herodian family, and of the Procurators of Judæa. See Farthing and Mite.

DARIC. See Dram.
DENARIUS. See Penny.

proper was not in circulation till the reign of Darius, son
of pure gold, though the actual name of Dariz guter
of Hystaspes (B.C. 521-455), who issued a new coins
was not in vogue till the time of his successor, Xerxes
(B.C. 485-465); and the drams mentioned under the resga
of his son, Artaxerxes Longimanus (Ezra vai, 27; Na
vii. 72), are certainly the coins called Darics, which at
this period extensively circulated in Persia
It is pro
bable that the staters of Croesus, king of Lydia, contined
in circulation from after the capture of Sardes in B.CS4
to the time when Darius reformed the coinage; and if so,
the Lydian staters would be those alluded to during the
reign of Cyrus. The ordinary Persian daric is a thick
gold piece, bearing the figure of a king kneeling, houding
in left hand a bow and in right a spear or a dagger (ema
Ezek. xxxix. 3; Isa. lxvi. 19), and has an average weight
of 130 grains. The English sovereign weighs 1204 grains,
which, after deducting th, leaves 11312 grains of fue
gold; but the daric is th finer than our gold.and reck ́n-
ing it at 130 grains in weight, contains 124 6 grains of pare
gold; therefore in value it equals 11 of a sovereign,
or about £1 28. Double daries, weighing about 20 grains
drums at the time of David (1 Chron. I 17), test
are also in existence. With reference to the mentice of
be remembered that the writer, who in all pro lang
his readers the value of the gold subscribed and there-
was Ezra, wished to express in language intelligitle to
fore translated the terms employed in his documents
whatever they were, into terms that were in use in his
own day (Speaker's Com, Vol. III, p. 271).

1246

DIDRACHM. See Shekel and Tribute-money. DRACHM, Drachmi, drachma (2 Macc. iv. 19; x. 20; xii. 43; Tobit v. 14). It is of various weights, according to the-but rare-and perhaps half-daries, weighing 60 grans, use of the different talents. The drachms here mentioned are of the Attic talent, which became almost universal on Alexander's succession (B.C. 338), and weighed about 67-2 grains. In later times (about B.C. 27), the drachm weighed only 613 grains, and thus became very nearly equal to the Roman denarius [PENNY], the average weight of which was 60 grains. The earliest Attic drachm contained about 1th of the weight of alloy, and there remain 661 grains of silver to be valued. Our shillings weigh 872 grains, and contain 807 grains of pure silver. The earliest Attic drachm is therefore worth shilling, or 9'82 pence, which is 91d+ of a farthing. The later Attic drachm, deducting also of the weight of alloy, is worth of a shilling, or 893 pence, which is sid. + of a farthing; and hence the value of the latest drachm or denarius may be taken at about 8d. [PIECE OF SILVER and PENNY.]

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DRAM. The translation in the A.V. of the Hebrew words Adarkon and Darkemon (Ezra ii. 69; viii. 27: Neh. vii. 70-72; 1 Chron. xxix. 7). Though there are several opinions concerning the origin of these words, it is agreed that by them a gold coin or stater-the Persian daric-is intended. The origin of the term has been sought in the name of Darius the Mede, but on no sure grounds, or of that of Darius, son of Hystaspes. In consequence of the type of the coins being "an archer" (by which nametorotai-they were sometimes called), some have thought that the Hebrew words were derived from darak," to hend the bow"; whilst others suggest a connection with the Persian words dashtan, "to have, to hold, to possess", or dara," a king ", which latter would be a likely derivation, as the figure represented is not any particular king, but the king of Persia in a general sense. Though the passages in Ezra and Nehemiah would seem to show that coins of similar name were current during the reigns of Cyrus, Cambyses, and Darius Hystaspes, it is a question if the coin called "Daric" is intended by those mentioned during the reign of Cyrus, B.C. 538 (Ezra ii. 69). The daric

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FARTHING. This word occurs four times in the AV. of the N.T. Two names of coins are rendered by } (1) Assarion (Matt. x. 29; Luke xii. 6), the Greek name of the Roman as or assarius. From the fact that the the two assaria of the Greek text, it is more than pro Vulgate substitutes the word dipondius (two GAWS) for bable that a single coin is intended by this latter expresson, an idea fully borne out by the copper coins of Czas | on which are inscribed the words assarion, assaria del or duo, and assaria tria. The assarion of the NT. must be 1 sought for among the Greek imperial coins and the second brass coins of Antioch in Syria seem to furnish us with probable specimens. One of these coins, with the countermark GAD (in Greek letters), proves that it was lawiny current in Gadara of Decapolis These coins, from the time of Augustus, consist of two series-(a) with Greek legends, and having the name of the town and the date of the era of Antioch; and (b) with the name of the emperor in Latin, and on the reverse the letters S. C (Senatus consulto). After the reign of Vespasian (A.D. 75 the two sets, become amalgamated, and form one series. The second brass coins of these series average in weight 143 grains, and are specimens of the as, which, at 10 to the denarius [PENNY], would be equivalent to d of our money. (2) Kodrantes (Matt. v. 26, Mark rii 421, or quadrans, the fourth part of the Roman as, originally equal to the chalkous, weighing 672 grains. The corper currency of Palestine in the time of Augustus and Tiberius consisted partly of Roman and Jewish ens and partly of Greco-Roman or Greek imperial In eesequence of the reduction of the weight of the as, the quadrans became reduced to just half the weight, or

MONEY AND WEIGHTS OF THE BIBLE,

33-6 grains, and the Roman coins and small copper coins of the Herodian family of this weight represent the farthing of the N. T. The as being equivalent, as we have shown above, to d., the quadrans would be equal to about d. or of an English farthing. According to St. Mark,two mites make a farthing"; but on this question see Mite.

FOURTH PART OF A SHEKEL. Rebah (1 Sam. ix. 8), about 8d. [SHEKEL.]

GERAH (Exod. xxx. 13; Lev. xxvii. 25; Num. iii. 47; svin. 16; Ezek. xlv. 12). The twentieth part of a shekel, about 1d. [SHEKEL.]

GOLD [Money]). (1) There is no positive mention of the use of gold money among the Hebrews (see Isa. xlvi. 6; Job xxvii. 15) [PIECE OF GOLD; SHEKEL]. though gold constituted part of the wealth of Abraham (Gen. xiii. 2), if we exclude the "600 shekels of gold" paid by David for the threshing-floor and oxen (1 Chron. xxi, 25; comp. 2 Sam. xxiv. 24. "shekels of silver"), and it was generally employed for personal ornaments and for objects in connection with the Temple (2 Chron. iii. 9, &c.). (2) Chrusos, aurum (Matt. x. 9; James v. 3); Chrusion, aurum (Acts iii. 6; xx. 33; 1 Pet. i. 18). The gold coinage current in Palestine in the N. T. period was the Roman imperial aureus, which passed for 25 denarii, and was worth about £1 18.

kind in connection with gold, the A. V. supplies the word "shekels" [SHEKEL]; and as a similar expression is found in connection with silver, and as there is not much doubt that a weight is intended, the word understood in this passage would also probably be "shekels".

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PIECE OF MONEY. (1) Kesitah (Gen. xxxiii. 19; "piece of silver", Josh. xxiv. 32; Job xlii. 11). From the translation by the LXX. of "lambs", it has been assumed that the kesitah was a coin bearing the impression of a lamb or a sheep, but the coins so frequently quoted as examples belong probably to Cyprus, and were not struck till after B.C. 450. The real meaning of kesitah is "a portion", and it was in all probability a piece of rough silver of fixed weight. (2) Stater (Matt. xvii. 27). The word stater means a coin of a certain weight, and hence a standard (comp. shekel and pondo), and was a term applied by the Greeks to coins of gold, of electrum, and of silver. The name was applied first to the didrachm (two drachms), and then to the tetradrachm (four drachms). During the first and second centuries, the silver currency of Palestine consisted of tetradrachms of Antioch on Orontes, of Tyre, &c., and of Roman denarii of a quarter their weight. The Attic tetradrachm was called stater, as the standard coin of the system, and no other stater was current in Palestine at this time. The great cities of Syria and Phoenicia either ceased to strike tetradrachms, or debased their coinage before the close of the first century A.D. Antioch

HALF A SHEKEL (Exod. xxx. 13, 15), about 18. 4. continued to strike tetradrachms to the third century, [BEKAH; SHEKEL.]

KESEPH. See Money, Silver, and Silverling. KESITAH. See Piece of Money and Piece of Silver. MITE (Mark xii. 42; Luke xii. 59; xxi. 2). The rendering of the Greek word lepton, which was a small Greek copper cointh of the obol, weighing 336 grains, and hence half of the original chalkous or quadrans. St. Mark states, two mites, which is a farthing"; but he probably meant "two small pieces of money' the smallest st pieces then extant, and the words "which is a quadrans have been added to show that the quadrans, weighing about 33 6 grains, was then the smallest piece struck. The mite alluded to was a Jewish coin, for the Jews were not permitted to bring any but Jewish money into the Holy Place, and for this cause money - changers [MONEYCHANGERS] stood at the entrance to the Temple in order to give Jewish money in exchange for foreign; and it is probable that the small coins of Alexander Jannæus, ranging in weight from 30 grains to 15 grains, are the pieces in question. Their value would be about d. or of an English farthing. If, however, the pieces of 15 grains are the half of those of 30, and not examples of the same coin of light weight, then two would equal a quadrans, and their value would be of an English farthing. But this conjecture is by no means sure.

MONEY. (1) In the O. T. the general expression is Keseph. (2) In the N. T. money is rendered as follows:(a) Argurion, pecunia, "silver" (Matt. xxv. 18, 27; xxviii. 12, 15; Mark xiv. 11; Luke ix. 3; xix. 15, 23; xxii. 5; Acts vii. 16 [argentum]; viii. 20 [pecunia]. In Matt. xxvi. 9, the phrase is "much [money]"). (b) Chalkos, es, "brass" (Mark vi. 8; xii. 41). (c) Chrema, "a thing that one uses or needs", pretium (Acts iv. 37; pecunia, viii. 18, 20; xxiv. 26). (d) Kerma, "anything cut small", as (John ii. 15). [SILVER and MONEY-CHANGERS.]

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PENNY. Denarion, denarius (Matt. xviii. 28; xx. 2, 9, 10, 13; xxii. 19; Mark vi. 37; xii. 15; xiv. 5; Luke vii. 41; x. 35; xx. 24; John vi. 7; xii. 6; Rev. vi. 6). Its standard weight in the reign of Augustus, and to the time of Nero, was 60 grains. Deductingth of the weight for alloy, there remain 58 grs. of pure silver, and the shilling containing 807 grs. of pure silver, we have 80-7 of a shilling, or 8'6245 pence = about 8d. In the time of Nero the weight was reduced to 525; and applying to this the same method of reckoning, the penny of Nero's time would equal about 74d. There is no doubt that most of the silver currency in Palestine during the N. T. period consisted of denarii, and "a penny the tribute-money payable by the Jews to the Roman Emperor [TRIBUTE (Money), 2]. "A penny" was the day's pay for a labourer in Palestine at the time of our Lord (Matt. xx. 2, 9, 10, 13; comp. Tobit v. 14), as it was the pay of a field-labourer in the middle ages; and the term denarius is still preserved in our £ 8. D. [DRACHM and PIECE OF SILVER, 2.]

was

PIECE OF GOLD. This phrase occurs only once in the O. T., in the passage respecting Naaman the Syrian (2 Kings v. 5), In several other passages of a similar

but gradually depreciated them, the commencement of which cannot be determined. It was carried so far as to destroy the correspondence of the stater to four denarii by the time of Hadrian (A.D. 117). Other cities, if they issued staters towards the close of the first century, struck them of such base metal as to render their separation from copper money impossible. On this evidence, the Gospel is of the first century. The tetradrachm of Antioch (stater) is a specimen of the "piece of money' that was found by St. Peter in the fish's mouth (Matt. xvii. 27). It represents the tax for two persons-for our Lord and for St. Peter [TRIBUTE (Money), 1]. It is equivalent in weight to the shekel, averaging 220 grains-and to about 28. 8d. of our money. [PIECE OF SILVER, 2.]

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PIECE OF SILVER. This phrase occurs in the A. V. of both the O. T. and N. T. (1) The word "pieces" has been supplied in the A.V. for a word understood in the Hebrew. The rendering is always "a thousand", or the like, "of silver" (Gen. xx. 16; xxxvii. 28; xlv. 22; Judg. ix. 4; xvi. 5; 2 Kings vi. 25; Song of Solomon vini. 11; Hosea ii. 2; Zech. xi. 12, 13). In similar passages, the word "shekels" occurs in the Hebrew [SHEKEL], and there is no doubt that this is the word understood in all these cases. There are, however, some exceptional passages where a word equivalent to "piece" or "pieces" is found in the Hebrew. The first occurs in 1 Sam. ii. 36, Agorat keseph, "piece of silver", and the agorah may be the same as the gerah (q. v.). Both are translated in the LXX. by obolos. The second is in Ps. Ixviii. 30 (Heb. 32), Ratsee keseph," pieces of silver".(LXX. [lxvii, 30] argurion), and the word ratz from ratsats," to break in pieces", must mean a fragment or piece broken off. The third, the kesitah, to which I have already alluded. [PIECE OF MONEY, 1.] (2) Two words are rendered in the N. T. by "piece of silver". (a) Drachme, drachma (Luke xv. 8), and here correctly rendered, as the Attic drachm was at the time of St. Luke equivalent to the Roman denarius [DRACHM; PENNY]. This accounts for the remark of Josephus (Antiq. iii. 8, 2), who says that "the shekel equalled four Attic drachms", for in his time the drachm and denarius were almost equal to the quarter of a shekel [SHEKEL]. Value about 8d. or 74d. (b) Argurion, argenteus, denarius. This word occurs in two passages-(A) the account of the betrayal of our Lord for thirty pieces of silver" (Matt. xxvi. 15; xxvii. 3, 5, 6, 9). These have usually been considered to be denarii, but on no sufficient ground. The parallel passage in Zechariah (xi. 12, 13), is translated "thirty [pieces] of silver"; but whilst it is observable that "thirty shekels of silver" was which should doubtless be read," thirty shekels of silver", the price of blood to be paid in the case of a servant therefore be explained as "thirty shekels of silver", not accidentally killed (Exod. xxi. 32). The passage may of the Greek cities of Syria and Phoenicia. These tetracurrent shekels, but tetradrachms of the Attic standard drachms were common at the time of our Lord, and of them the stater was a specimen [PIECE OF MONEY, 2]. In the A. V. of St. Matthew the prophecy is ascribed to Jeremiah instead of to Zechariah. Many suggestions have been made on this question, but it may be observed that the Syriac version omits the proper name, and merely says "the prophet"; hence a copyist might have

MONEY AND WEIGHTS OF THE BIBLE.

inserted the wrong name. (B) The price of the conjuring books that were burnt (Acts xix. 19). The Vulgate has accurately rendered the phrase denarii, as there is no doubt that these coins are intended. [MONEY and SILVER.]

POUND. Mna (Luke xix. 13-25)-money of account. At this time the Attic talent obtained in Palestine, Sixty mine went to the talent (q. v.). The "pound" contained 100 drachms. The drachm of the Gospel period being equivalent to about 8d., the value of the pound would be £3 68. 8d. The Greek name mna was probably derived from the Hebrew manch (q. v. under WEIGHTS).

RATZ. See Piece of Silver.

REBAH. See Fourth Part of a Shekel.

SHEKEL. A word signifying "weight", and also the name of a coin, either silver or copper. It only occurs in the O.T., where it signifies the weight of certain objects, or where it is employed for a piece of silver of fixed value. The word "shekel" occurs in the Hebrew and the A.V. in the following passages:-Gen. xxiii. 15, 16; Exod. xxi. 32; xxx. 13, 15; xxxviii. 24-26; Lev. v. 15; xxvii. 3-7; Num. iii. 47, 50; vii. 13, 19, 25, 31, 37, 43, 40, 55, 61, 67, 73, 79, 85, 86; xviii. 16; Josh. vii. 21; 1 Sam. ix. 8; xvii. 5,7; 2 Sam. xiv. 26; xxi. 16; xxiv. 24; 2 Kings vii. 1; xv. 20; 1 Chron. xxi. 25 (gold shekels); 2 Chron. iii. 9 (gold shekels); Neh. v. 15; x. 32; Jer. xxxii. 9; Ezek. iv. 10; xlv. 12; Amos viii. 5. It is supplied in the A.V. in connection with "silver" in Deut. xxii. 19, 29; Judg. xvii. 2-4, 10; 2 Sam. xviii. 11, 12; 1 Kings x. 29; 2 Chron. i. 17; and in connection with "gold" in Gen. xxiv. 22; Num. vii. 14, 20, 26, 32, 38, 41, 50, 56, 62, 68, 74, 80, 86; Judg. viii. 26; 1 Kings x. 16; 2 Chron. ix. 15, 16 [see Manch under WEIGHTS]. Three kinds of shekels appear to be mentioned-11 the shekel, (2) the shekel of the sanctuary, and (3) the shekel of the king's weight. The "shekel of the sanctuary", or "holy shekel", a term generally applied to the silver shekel, but once to the gold (Exod. xxxviii. 24), was probably the normal weight, and was kept by the priests. The shekel of the king" was connected with the Assyrio-Babylonian manch of the king, as marked on the monuments from Nineveh (Talent under WEIGHTS). The LXX. translate the denominations in silver by didrachmon and siklus. The shekel as extant corresponds in weight to the tetradrachm or didrachm of the early Phoenician talent in use in the cities of Phoenicia under Persian rule. It is probable that the Alexandrian Jews adopted the term "didrachm" as the common name of the coin which was equal in weight to

the shekel. The value of the silver shekel is about 28. 8d. The gold shekel, as derived from a passage in Josephus, must have weighed about 253 grains [see Pound under WEIGHTS], a very little lower than the 60th of the Assyrian mina in gold, which weighed 260 grains: and when he says in another passage (Antiq. iii. 8, 10; comp. Num. vii. 14) that ten gold shekels equalled ten darics, he must mean the double darics, weighing about 260 grains been discovered. (See General Remarks.) Fifteen shekels The gold shekel was worth about £2. None have ever of silver, each weighing about 224 grains, were equal in value to one shekel of gold [Talent under WEIGHTS]. The divisions of the shekel mentioned in the O. T. are the half (bekah), the third part, the fourth part (rebah), and the twentieth part (gerah), qq. v. In the reign of ArtaXerxes Longimanus B.C. 458) a special commission was granted to Ezra "to do what seeins good with the rest of the silver and the gold" (Ezra vii. 18); and it has been suggested that this was virtually permission to the Jews to coin money, and the silver shekels extant dated of the years 1 to 5, and the half-shekels of the years 1 to 4, weighing about 220 and 110 grains respectively, are considered to be of this period. As regards the "shekels of silver" mentioned in Nehemiah (v. 15; comp.lx 32), these may perhaps refer to the silver coin circulating in the Persian kingdom called siglos, of which 20 went to one gold daric, and weighing 84 grains, but having no connection with the siklos (weighing about 220 grains), excepting in name. These coins are, like the darics, impressed with the figure of an archer [DRAM In the year B. C. 139, Antiochus VII. (Sidetes) granted special permission to Simon Maccabæus to coin money with his own stamp (1 Macc. Iv. 6), and the silver shekels and half-shekels most probably belong to Simon, and perhaps the copper pieces (shekel, shekel, and of shekel), dated in the fourth year; but there is great uncertainty as to the latter.

The Asmonean dynasty continued to issue a copper coinage, gradually showing Greek tendencies, to the time of Antigonus, the last prince of the Asmonean dynasty,

(B.C. 40-37), and the numerous coinage of Alexander Jannæus (B.C. 105-78) doubtless circulated even in N. T. times [MITE The Idumaan princes, commencing with Herod I. (surnamed the Great, cotinued a copper coinage with only Greek legends, which circulated in Judaa (as well as a procuratorial commage. xxvi. 2, seq.) in A.D. 100. The national coinage, consistA.D. 6-59) till the death of Agrippa II (Acts xxv. 13. ing of silver shekels and shekels, as well as of copper. with old Hebrew inscriptions, was revived during the first revolt (May, A.D. 66-September, A. D. 70, and during the second under Bar-cochab (A.D. 132-A.D. 15, at which time many of the Jewish shekels were struck over Roman denarii.

SILVER [Money]. (1) Keseph in 0. T. (q. r.); 3) in N. T. arguros, argentum (Matt. x. 9; James v. 3), or argurion, argentum (Acts iii. 6; xx. 33; 1 Pet. i. 18). The silver coins current in Palestine in N. T. period consisted of the tetradrachms and drachms of the Attic standard. and of the Roman denarius. [MONEY, 1 and 2, and PIECE OF SILVER, 2.]

SILVERLING. Keseph (Isa vii. 23). The word allverling occurs in Tyndale's version of Acts xix. 19, and m Coverdale's of Judg. ix. 4; xv1.5. The German süberlag ä found in Luther's version (Bible Word-Book. The same word is also used in Cranmer and Tyndale for the money stolen by Micah (Judg. xvii. 2, 3)-"the leuen hundreds syluerlynges" Bible Educator, vol. iv., p. 210)

STATER. See Piece of Money, 2, and Tribute-money, 1 SUM [of Money]. (1) Kephalaion (Acts xxii. 25, izm classical authors capital as opposed to interest or theme (ep. "principal", Lev. vi. 5; Num. v. 7). In Mk. 15 pikephalaion, "poll-tax", is used in the place of the ordinary word kensos. [TRIBUTE (Money), 2) Sux of MONEY. (2) Time arguriou, pretium argenti (Acts vi 16), ie price in silver. [MONEY]

TALENT. Talanton, talentum, a sum, not a comm. I (1) In O. T. the rendering of the Hebrew coursee Talent under WEIGHTS]; (2) in N. T. this word occurs(a) in the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matt vi 23-25); and (b) in the parable of the talents (Matt XIV. 14-30). At this time the Attic talent obtained in Pales i tine; 60 mine and 6,000 drachma went to the talent. It was consequently worth about £200. [POUND]

THIRD PART OF THE SHEKEL (Neh 3), about 10d. See Shekel and Tribute [Money)

(Matt. xvii. 24). The sacred tribute or payment of the TRIBUTE [Money]. (1) The sacred tribute, didrachma "atonement money" was half a shekel (Exod. xx. 11, 16), and was originally levied on every male of twenty years old and above when the Israelites were first nunbered. In the reign of Joash the same sum was demanded for the repair of the Temple (2 Chron. 4-14). After the return from the Captivity, the annual third of the shekel (mount of tribute was aga payment "for the service of the house of God" was onetributed (Neh. x. 32). and was voluntarily conrestored to the half-shekel (q. r.), which the Jews when dispersed throughout the world continued to pay towards the Temple. It is to this tribute that St. Matthew refers and the stater found in the fish's mouth was an Attic tetradrachm, and at this time equal to a shekel both ancient and modern, have entirely missed the [PIECE OF MONEY; SHEKEL]. Many commentators, meaning of this miracle by interpreting the payment as a ciril one. That it was the sacred tribute is plain from our Lord's reason for exemption:" Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children or of strangers?" (Matt. xvii. 25, 26), and further. from His reason for payment, "lest we should offend them", which shows that the Jews willingly pasl the tribute; indeed, it was not enforced by law even in the earliest times, being in this respect unlike the civil tribute. (2) The civil tribute, nomisma tou kinson, brasos, phoros (Matt. xxii. 17, 19; Mark xii. 14: Lake xx. 22; xxiii. 2). This was a tax paid to the Roman Emperor, and was doubtless established when Jude became a Roman province. The sum paid_annusliy is not known; but after the cap are of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple, Vespasian ordered the Jews, in whatever country they might be, to pay the sum of two drachma to the temple of Jupiter Capstolinus as they had previously paid to the Temple at Jerasalem. Under Domitian the tax was enforced with great severity, but upon the accession of Nerva it was abolished. Numismatic records establish this fact; coins are extant with the legend, Fisci Judaici calumnia sublata (ockup.

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