SILVER COIN.

SHEKEL, OR SILVERLING.

The shekel of silver, or, as it is termed, Isa. vii. 23, silverling, originally weighed three hundred and twenty barleycorns, but it was afterwards increased to the weight of three hundred and eighty-four. Its value was considered equal to four Roman denarii, two shillings and sevenpence; or, according to Bishop Cumberland, two shillings and fourpence farthing. Aaron's rod is said to have been inscribed on one side, and the pot of manna on the other. The representations given, are from coins used among various nations of antiquity. No. 8, probably, refers to the Hebrew shekel here described.

BEKAH.

The bekah, mentioned Exod. xxxviii. 26, was equal to half a shekel.

DENARIUS.

The denarius was one-fourth of a shekel, or equal to sevenpence three farthings of our money.

GERAH.

The gerah, (Exod. xxx. 13; Lev. xxvii. 25,) or meah, was the sixth part of the denarius, and the twenty-fourth part of the shekel.

ASSAR.

The assar, or assarion, of Matt. x. 29, was the ninety-sixth part of a shekel, and its value rather more than a farthing.

FARTHING.

The farthing, mentioned Matt. v. 26, was in value the thirteenth part of a penny sterling.

MITE.

The mite, of which the poor woman, commended by our Lord, cast two into the treasury, was the half of a farthing, or the twenty-sixth part of a penny sterling; being, in fact, no more than three-fourths of our farthing see Mark xii. 42.

MINA, OR MANEH.

The mina, or maneh, Ezek. xlv. 12, was equal to sixty shekels; which, if we take the value of the shekel at two shillings and sevenpence, was seven pounds, fifteen shillings.

TALENT.

The talent was fifty minas, and, upon the same mode of reckoning, was of the value of three hundred and eighty-seven pounds, ten shillings.

GOLD COINS.

SHEKEL.

A shekel of gold was about fourteen and a half times the value of that of silver, and would therefore be one pound, seventeen shillings, and fivepence halfpenny.

TALENT.

The talent of gold consisted of three thousand shekels; consequently, its value was five thousand. six hundred and eighteen pounds, fifteen shillings.

DRACHMA.

The drachma was equal to a Roman denarius; that is, sevenpence three farthings of our money.

DIDRACHMA.

The didrachma, or tribute money, which every master of a family used to pay half yearly in the service of the temple, for purchasing salt and minor articles not otherwise provided for, was equal to fifteenpence halfpenny: see Matt. xvii. 24. It is said, that this coin was stamped with a harp on one side, and a vine tree on the other.

SLATER.

The slater, or piece of money found by Peter in the mouth of the fish, was two half shekels: see Matt. xvii. 27.

DRAMS-DARIC.

It is generally agreed that the Hebrew word adarkon, 1 Chron. xxix. 7, and darkemon, Ezra ii. 69, which is in both passages rendered "drams," refers to the famous Persian coin called daric, which is the most ancient of all coins. Its name is commonly said to be derived from Darius, the Persian king, who caused it to be struck. It bore, on one side, the effigy of a Persian monarch; and, on the reverse, the figure of an archer. According to Parkhurst, its value was one pound, five shillings.

PENNY.

Lightfoot states, that the gold penny was equal to twenty-five silver pence.

MEASURES OF LENGTH.

A FINGER.

A finger (see Jer. lii. 21) was the breadth of a thumb, or six barleycorns laid beside each other. Bishop Cumberland says, it was equal to nine hundred and twelve parts of an inch.

A HANDBREADTH.

A handbreadth (see Psa. xxxix. 5, where the psalmist compares our days, for their shortness, to that measure) was equal to eighteen barleycorns.