Weights Reduced to English troy-weight, the Hebrew weights were: (1.) The gerah (Leviticus 27:25; Numbers 3:47), a Hebrew word, meaning a grain or kernel, and hence a small weight. It was the twentieth part of a shekel, and equal to 12 grains.

(2.) Bekah (Exodus 38:26), meaning "a half" i.e., "half a shekel," equal to 5 pennyweight.

(3.) Shekel, "a weight," only in the Old Testament, and frequently in its original form (Genesis 23:15, Genesis 1:23; Exodus 21:32; Exodus 1:30, Exodus 1:30; Exodus 1:38, etc.). It was equal to 10 pennyweight.

(4.) Ma'neh, "a part" or "portion" (Ezekiel 45:12), equal to 60 shekels, i.e., to 2 lbs. 6 oz.

(5.) Talent of silver (2 Kings 5:22), equal to 3,000 shekels, i.e., 125 lbs.

(6.) Talent of gold (Exodus 25:39), double the preceding, i.e., 250 lbs.


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