Bible Question: What is shekel? |
Bible Answer: The Bible frequently refers to “pieces” of silver or gold. The confusing term “shekel” did not denote any one value or weight at first, although it later became the name of a Jewish coin. For instance, there were heavy and light silver shekels (Phoenician), and heavy and light gold shekels (Babylonian). Fifteen heavy Phoenician shekels of silver equaled one heavy Babylonian gold shekel. Abraham paid pieces of silver, or shekels, for the cave of Machpelah (Gen. 23:16). David paid gold shekels to Ornan the Jebusite (1 Chr. 21:22–25). Fractions of the shekel are mentioned in the Old Testament as well: the half-shekel, or bekah (Ex. 38:26); the third part of a shekel as a covenant obligation (Neh. 10:32); the fourth part of a shekel, or rebah, proposed to Saul by the servant as a gift to the prophet Samuel (1 Sam. 9:8); and the 20th part of a shekel, or a gerah (Lev. 27:25). The pin was two-thirds of a shekel (1 Sam. 13:21). These pieces were probably fragments of gold or silver bars. Youngblood, R. F. (1995). Nelson's new illustrated Bible dictionary. Rev. ed. of: Nelson's illustrated Bible dictionary.;Includes index. Nashville: T. Nelson. EdB |
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