Chap. IX Their Measures
Measures in use among the Hebrews, and so among all other Nations, are of two sorts: some Mensuræ applicationis, measures of application, as, a span, a cubit, a yard, and the like. Secondly, Mensuræ capacitatis, measures of capacity, as pints, quarts, pecks, bushels, &c. Measures of application, mentioned in Scripture, are these that follow (in which there might be no deceit; the ground of these measures was the breadth of so many, or so many barley corns middle sized, laid by one another) אצבע Etsbang, Digitus, a finger, an inch.761 It containeth the breadth of six barley corns joyned together where they are thickest: though in round-reckoning it goeth for an inch, yet in accurate speaking four fingers make three inches.762 Of this there is mention, Jer. 52. 21.
Palmus, This was two fold; Palmus minor, and Palmus major. The lesser containeth the breadth of four fingers, (i.) three inches, the Hebrews term it, טפח Tophach, the Greeks παλαιστίδα: the greater is termed זרת Zereth, by the Greeks σπιθαμὴ; in Latine Spithama, & Dodrans. It containeth the measure that is between the thumb and the little finger stretcht out, a span.
פעם, Pagnam, Pes, a foot. It containeth twelve inches.763
אמה Amma, Cubitus, a Cubit. We shall find in Authors mention of four kinds of Cubits. 1. Cubitus communi, this was the measure from the elbow to the fingers end. It contained a foot and half, or half a a yard, it is called the common Cubit. 2. Cubitus sacer, An holy Cubit, this was a full yard, containing two of the common Cubits, as appeareth by comparing 1 Kin. 7. 15. with 2 Chron. 3. 15. In the first place, the pillars are reckoned each of them eighteen cubits high: in the second place they are reckoned five and thirty cubits high; which, together with the basis, being one ordinary cubit high, doubleth the number: so that the first Text is to be understood of holy cubites; the second of common cubits. 3. Cubitus regis, the Kings cubit; this was three fingers longer than the common cubit:764 Whereas the common cubit is termed cubitus viri, the cubit of a man, Deut. 3. 11. Onkelos doth improperly term it, cubitum regis, the Kings cubit. Lastly, there was cubitus geometricus, A geometrical cubit, it contained six common cubits,765 and according to these cubits, it is thought that Noah’s Ark was built.
Some make the difference between the cubit of the sanctuary, and the common cubit, to be thus; The common cubit, they say, contained fifteen inches,766 the holy cubit eighteen inches.767 But that the holy cubit contained two common cubits, hath been evidently proved; and it is probable, that those who make the difference to be only three inches, have mistaken the Kings cubit, for the holy cubit.
חבל Chebel, Funiculus, a line or rope. The just length thereof is unknown: the use thereof was to measure grounds; whence it is sometimes taken for the inheritance it self. The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places, Psal. 16. 6. That is, mine inheritance.
קנה Kaneh, Arundo, the Reed. The use of this was to measure buildings; the length thereof was six cubits and an hand-breadth, Ezek. 40. 5. The cubits in this place are interpreted768 Kings cubits: it was less liable to deceipt than the Rope, because it could not be shortened or lengthened, by shrinking or stretching: hence the Canon or rule of the holy Scripture is mystically typed out by this Reed, Ezek. 40. and Revel. 21. 15.
To these may be added other measures, wherewith they measured their wayes and walks. The least of these was צגד Tsagad, passus, a pace.
Στάδιον, Stadium, a furlong. It is often mentioned in the New Testament, not at all in the Old. It contained one hundred twenty five paces,769 which is the eighth part of our mile. Some think it to be called so, ἀπὸ τῆς στάσεως, from standing, because Hercules ran so much ground before he stood still.
Milliarium, a mile; It containeth with us a thousand paces, but much more among the Hebrews. Their word ברה Barah, translated often Milliarium, properly signifying a dinner or meal, and being applyed unto journeys, walks or ways, it signified so much ground as usually is gone, or conveniently may be travelled in half a day, between meal and meal, or bait and bait. The word is read, Gen. 35. 16. When there was (כברת הארץ Cibrath haarets) about half a daies journey of ground. The Greek in that place hath an uncouth word χαβραθὰ; doubtless it was made from the Hebrew’s Cibrath, and signifieth half a daies journey.
Their measures of capacity, termed Mensuræ capacitatis, were of two sorts; some for dry things as Corn, Seed, &c. Some for liquid things, as Wine, Oyl, &c. In both, that there might be a just proportion observed, all their measures were designed by a set number of Hens eggs-shells of a middle size.
In my parallelling of them with our measures, where I speak of Bushels, half Bushels, Pecks, &c. I am to be understood according to Winchester measure, as we phrase it: such a bushel contained eight gallons. Where I speak of gallons, pottles, quarts, &c. I am to be understood according to our Ale-measure, thereby I avoid fractions of number.
קב, Kab, Kabus, a Kab.770 This contained twenty four eggs, it held proportion with our Quart. The least measure mentioned in Scripture, is the fourth part of a Kab, 2 Kings 6. 25. The famine in Samaria was so great, that a fourth part of a Kab of Doves dung was sold for five pieces of silver. The Rabbines have a Proverb, that ten Kabs of speech descended into the world, and the women took away nine of them.771
עמר Omer. It contained772 one Kab and an half, and a fifth part of a Kab, that is, three pints and a half pint, and a fifth part of an half pint. It was the tenth part of an Ephah, Exod. 16. 36.
סאה Seah, σάτον, a Satum; The Latine Interpreters commonly render it by Modius. It contained773 six Kabs, that is a Gallon and half. We translate the word in general, a measure: To morrow this time, a measure (that is, a Satum) of fine flower shall be sold for a Shekel, 2 Kings 7. 1.
אפה Ephah. It contained774 three Sata, that is, half a bushel, and a pottle.
לתך Lethec. It contained775 fifteen Modios (i.) Sata; that is, two bushels, six gallons, and a pottle. Mention of this is made, Hos. 3. 2. It is there rendred in English, half an Homer.
חמר Homer. It is so called from חמור Chamor, Asinus, an Ass, because this measure contained so much grain or corn as an Ass could well bear. It contained ten Ephahs, Ezek. 45. 11. that is, forty five gallons or five bushels, and five gallons.
כור Cor, Corus. The Cor, and the Homer, were of the same quantity, Ezek. 45. 14. It was not only of liquid things, Luke 16. 7.
These measures of which we have spoken hitherto, the Hebrews used in measuring dry things: Three other measures there were, which they used for liquid or moist things.
לוג Log. It contained776 six egg-shells. It was of the same quantity as the fourth part of a Kab, half a pint.
הין Hin. It contained777 the quantity of seventy two egg-shells, so that it was of our measure three quarts.
בת Bath; βάτος, Bathus, the Bath. It was of the same capacity with the Ephah, the tenth part of an Homer, Ezek. 45. 14. The Latine Interpreters commonly render it Cadus. Hieron778 writing upon Ezekiel, renders it Vadus. Decima pars Cori, inquit, in speciebus liquidis vocatur Bathus, sive Vadus. I sometimes thought there had been some error in the print, namely, Vadus, put for Cadus: But now I find the Greeks to use both βάτος, and βάδος, for this measure, and from the last of these Greek words, that ancient Father reads it, Vadus. Sometimes our English renders it, in general, a measure, Luk. 16. 6. It contained four gallons and a half.
All these measures were proper to the Hebrews: I find three others mentioned in the N. T. taken from other Nations.
Σεστός; Sextarius. We English it, in general, a Pot, Mar. 7. 4. It was of the same quantity with the Log,779 if we understand it of the Roman Sextarius. It was somewhat more, if we understand it of the Attick Sextarius: undecim Attici sextarii æquabant Romanos duodecim. In probability we are to understand the Roman measure, so that it contained six eggs, that is, half a pint.
Χοῖνιξ, Chenix, a measure, Rev. 6. 6. It signifieth properly that measure of corn, which was allowed servants for their maintenance every day. Whence was occasioned that speech of Pythagoras: Super Chænice non sedendum. That is, we must not rest upon the provision which sufficeth for a day, but we must take care for the morrow. It contained780 four Sextarii, that is, a Quart.
Μετρητὴς, Metretes, Joh. 2. 6. It is translated a Firkin. It was a measure in use among the Athenians. It was of the same quantity with Cadus,781 and Cadus (as before was noted) was equal to the Hebrew Bath, so that it contained four Gallons and an half.
Notes
761 Arias Mont. Thubal Cain.
762 Quatuor digiti constituunt tres pollices. Fran. Iunius in Ezek. 40. 5.
763 Quatuor Palmos; scil. minores. Pet. Martyr. 1. Reg. c. 6.
764 Herodot. lib. 2. in descrip. Bab.
765 Orig. hom. 2. in Genes. It. Aug. de Civitat. Dei, lib. 15. cap. 27.
766 Quinos palmos.
767 Sex palmos.
768 Tremelius in hunc locum.
769 Isidor.
770 Arias Mont. Thubal Cain.
771 עשרה קבין שיחה ירדו לעולם תשעה נטלו נשים Vid. Buxtorf. Lexic. in חיה
772 Alsted. præcog. theol. l. 2. p. 588.
773 Vide Buxtorf. Lexic. in קבב ex opere R. Alphes. tractat. de Pasch. chap. 5. fol. 176.
774 Arias Mont. Thubal Cain.
775 Epiph. de mensur. & Ponderib.
776 Buxtorf. in loco superius citato.
777 Buxtorf. ib.
778 Hieron. Ezek. 45.
779 Alsted. præcog. Theol. p. 561.
780 Budæus de asse. lib. 5.
781 Budæus de asse. lib. 5.