The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary
The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary
SPECIAL TOPIC: ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES (METROLOGY)The weights and measurements used in commerce were crucial in ancient agricultural economy.The Bible urges the Jews to be fair in their dealings with one another (cf. Lev. 19:35-36; Deut. 25:13-16; Pro. 11:1; 16:11; 20:10). The real problem was not only honesty, but the non-standardized termsand systems used in Palestine. It seems that there were two sets of weights; a “light” and a “heavy” ofeach amount (see The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, vol. 4, p. 831). Also the decimal system(base of 10) of Egypt had been combined with the sexagesimal (base of 6) of Mesopotamia.Many of the “sizes” and “amounts” used were based on human body parts, animal loads, andfarmer’s containers, none of which were standardized. Therefore, the charts are only estimations andare tentative. The easiest way to show weights and measures is on a relational chart.I. Volume terms used most oftenA. Dry measures1. Homer (BDB 330, possibly a “donkey-load,” BDB 331), e.g., Lev. 27:16; Hosea 3:22. Letekh (or lethech, BDB 547, possibly alluded to in Hosea 3:2)3. Ephah (BDB 35), e.g., Exod. 16:36; Lev. 19:36; Ezek. 45:10-11,13,244. Se’ah (BDB 684, e.g., Gen. 18:6; I Sam. 25:18; I Kgs. 18:32; II Kgs. 7:1,16,185. Omer (BDB 771 II, possibly “a sheaf” [a row of fallen grain], BDB 771 I), e.g., Exod.16:16,22,36; Lev. 23:10-156. ‘Issaron (BDB 798, “a tenth part” of an ephah), e.g., Exod. 29:40; Lev. 14:21; Num.15:4; 28:5,137. Qav (or Kab, BDB 866), cf. II Kgs. 6:25B. Liquid Measures1. Kor (BDB 499), e.g., Ezek. 45:14 (can be a dry measure also, cf. II Chr. 2:10; 27:5)2. Bath (BDB 144 II, e.g., I Kgs. 7:26; II Chr. 2:10; 4:5; Isa. 5:10; Ezek. 45:10-11,143. Hin (BDB 228), e.g., Exod. 29:40; Lev. 19:36; Ezek. 45:244. Log (BDB 528), cf. Lev. 14:10,12,15,21,24C. Chart (taken from Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, vol. 1, p. 201 and Encyclopedia Judaica,vol. 16, p. 379)homer (dry) = kor (liquid or dry)1ephah (dry) = bath (liquid) 10 1se’ah (dry) 30 3 1hin (liquid) 60 6 2 1omer/issaron (dry) 100 10 - - 1qav/kab (dry) 180 18 6 3 - 1log (liquid) 720 72 24 12 - 4 1II.Weight terms used most oftenA. The three most common weights are the talent, the shekel, and the gerah.1. The largest weight in the OT is the talent. From Exod. 38:25-26 we learn that one talentequals 3,000 shekels (i.e., “round weight,” BDB 503).2. The term shekel (BDB 1053, “weight”) is used so often that it is assumed, but not statedin the text. There are several values of shekel mentioned in the OT.a. “commercial standard” (NASB of Gen. 23:16)75
. “the shekel of the sanctuary” (NASB of Exod. 30:13)c. “by the king’s weight” (NASB of II Sam. 14:26), also called “royal weight” in theElephantine papyri.3. The gerah (BDB 176 II) is valued at 20 per shekel (cf. Exod. 30:13; Lev. 27:25; Num.3:47; 18:16; Ezek. 45:12). These ratios vary from Mesopotamia to Egypt. Israelfollowed the evaluation most common in Canaan (Ugarit).4. The mina (BDB 584) is valued at either 50 or 60 shekels. This term is found mostly inlater OT books (i.e., Ezek. 45:12; Ezra 2:69; Neh. 7:70-71). Ezekiel used the 60 to 1ratio, while Canaan used the 50 to 1 ratio.5. The beka (BDB 132, “half a shekel,” cf. Gen. 24:22) is used only twice in the OT (cf.Gen. 24:22; Exod. 38:26) and is valued at one-half a shekel. Its name means “todivide.”B. Chart1. Based on Pentateuchtalent 1mina 60 1shekel 3,000 50 1beka 6,000 100 2 1gerah 60,000 1,000 20 10 12. Based on Ezekieltalent 1mina 60 1shekel 3,600 60 1beka 7,200 120 2 1gerah 72,000 1,200 20 10 1} “And a homer of seed will yield but an ephah of grain” Again this is a striking metaphor for thefruitlessness of the usurped land. We learn from Ezek. 45:11 that there were ten ephahs in one homer;therefore, this is stating that if a farmer plants one hundred pounds, he will only harvest ten.5:11 “Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink” The next sinmentioned is one of riotous pleasure-seeking from morning to evening. It needs to be stressed that theBible does not condemn wine, but it does condemn the abuse of wine. This same metaphor of strongdrink is used in Isaiah 28. Other poignant passages on this subject are found in Pro. 20:1 and 23:29-35.However, one must add the balance of Ps. 104:1-4. “Strong drink” (BDB 1016) is a Hebrew termdescribing the addition of intoxicating grain liquors to wine. See Special Topic: Alcohol andAlcoholism at 1:22.5:12 “Their banquets are accompanied by” This is a way of speaking of the cultural entertainment ofthe day. It depicts a wealthy class given to worldly pleasures.} “But they do not pay attention to the deeds of the LORD,Nor do they consider the work of His hands” God’s covenant people’s refusal to hear andunderstand God’s will is a recurrent theme (cf. 1:2-3,10a; 5:12,13,24; 6:9-10; 30:9). God had given76
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. “the shekel of the sanctuary” (NASB of Exod. 30:13)c. “by the king’s weight” (NASB of II Sam. 14:26), also called “royal weight” in theElephantine papyri.3. <strong>The</strong> gerah (BDB 176 II) is valued at 20 per shekel (cf. Exod. 30:13; Lev. 27:25; Num.3:47; 18:16; Ezek. 45:12). <strong>The</strong>se ratios vary from Mesopotamia to Egypt. Israelfollowed the evaluation most common in Canaan (Ugarit).4. <strong>The</strong> mina (BDB 584) is valued at either 50 or 60 shekels. This term is found mostly inlater OT books (i.e., Ezek. 45:12; Ezra 2:69; Neh. 7:70-71). Ezekiel used the 60 to 1ratio, while Canaan used the 50 to 1 ratio.5. <strong>The</strong> beka (BDB 132, “half a shekel,” cf. Gen. 24:22) is used only twice in the OT (cf.Gen. 24:22; Exod. 38:26) <strong>and</strong> is valued at one-half a shekel. Its name means “todivide.”B. Chart1. Based on Pentateuchtalent 1mina 60 1shekel 3,000 50 1beka 6,000 100 2 1gerah 60,000 1,000 20 10 12. Based on Ezekieltalent 1mina 60 1shekel 3,600 60 1beka 7,200 120 2 1gerah 72,000 1,200 20 10 1} “And a homer of seed will yield but an ephah of grain” Again this is a striking metaphor for thefruitlessness of the usurped l<strong>and</strong>. We learn from Ezek. 45:11 that there were ten ephahs in one homer;therefore, this is stating that if a farmer plants one hundred pounds, he will only harvest ten.5:11 “Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink” <strong>The</strong> next sinmentioned is one of riotous pleasure-seeking from morning to evening. It needs to be stressed that the<strong>Bible</strong> does not condemn wine, but it does condemn the abuse of wine. This same metaphor of strongdrink is used in <strong>Isaiah</strong> 28. Other poignant passages on this subject are found in Pro. 20:1 <strong>and</strong> 23:29-35.However, one must add the balance of Ps. 104:1-4. “Strong drink” (BDB 1016) is a Hebrew termdescribing the addition of intoxicating grain liquors to wine. See Special Topic: Alcohol <strong>and</strong>Alcoholism at 1:22.5:12 “<strong>The</strong>ir banquets are accompanied by” This is a way of speaking of the cultural entertainment ofthe day. It depicts a wealthy class given to worldly pleasures.} “But they do not pay attention to the deeds of the LORD,Nor do they consider the work of <strong>His</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s” God’s covenant people’s refusal to hear <strong>and</strong>underst<strong>and</strong> God’s will is a recurrent theme (cf. 1:2-3,10a; 5:12,13,24; 6:9-10; 30:9). God had given76
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