drawing priest making offering over flamesTHE BRAZEN ALTAR.
OUTLINE FOR TEACHING AND REVIEW.
1. Draw upon the blackboard a diagram representing the ground-plan of the Court of the Tabernacle, and, within it, the Tabernacle itself. Tell the class its origin and history.
2. Locate upon the diagram each of the parts referred to, and describe them, following the outline given at the end of each paragraph.
3. Review the facts given, frequently during the lesson, and finally at the close.
THE BRAZEN ALTAR, ACCORDING TO MEYER.
diagram: THE TEMPLE IN THE TIME OF CHRIST (HEROD'S).
TheTemple was the centre of Jewish thought, not only in Palestine, but also throughout the world. Even when it lay in ruins, Daniel, in the land of captivity, opened his window toward its site when he prayed; and the front of every synagogue looked toward it. It stood on Mount Moriah, which was originally outside the wall of the city, east of Mount Zion. In order to give room for all its courts, the surface of the hill was increased by building out from its sides on successive platforms, supported by immense substructions of brick and stone, so that the entire mountain is honeycombed with artificial caves.
There were three successive Temples. 1.Solomon's Templededicated about 950 B.C. The accounts of this building are so meager, and the text is so uncertain, that it is impossible to construct its plan with any satisfaction. A conjectural ground plan is given onpage 71. This temple stood until 587 B.C., when it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. 2. After a period of desolation of 50 years,Zerubbabel's Templewas begun, 536 B.C., and finished 20 years after. Still less is known of its architecture; but it was probably on the same general plan as Solomon's, though less magnificent. It passed through many sieges, was desecrated by enemies, and reconsecrated by the Jews, but stood until 30 years before the birth of Christ. 3.Herod's Templewas a restoration, enlargement, and improvement upon Zerubbabel's. It was built by Herod the Great, in sections, taking down the old and building the new part by part, so that it occupied many years, and was not completed until after Herod's death, and less than ten years before its final destruction. This was the Temple standing in the time of Christ, and referred to in the allusions of the New Testament. It was destroyed by the Romans under Titus, A.D. 70, and was never rebuilt by the Jews, though its restoration was more than once attempted. Its site is now occupied by the Mohammedan "Dome of the Rock," often, but erroneously, called the Mosque of Omar.
photoTHE DOME OF THE ROCK.
The Temple of Herod is the one usually described in works on the subject. The authorities are: 1. The Scriptures, from which we gather references to this Temple, and analogies from the description of the Tabernacle, of which the Temple was an enlarged copy. 2. The description given by Josephus, which was written 20 years after its fall, and gives general impressions rather than accurate details. 3. The tract Middoth "measures," in the Talmud, which gives precise measurements, but not complete information. 4. The allusions in ancient Jewish literature, of more or less value and authority. 5. The results of recent explorations under the Temple area, which are very valuable. Different investigators have come to very different conclusions concerning the Temple and its courts. We present in this description those of Dr. James Strong, in McClintock & Strong's Cyclopedia, from which our diagram is taken, by permission. From the uncertainty of many dimensions, and especially the difference of opinion with regard to the length of the Jewish cubit, in which all the ancient measurements are given, most of our figures must be regarded as general estimates, rather than precise statements.
The Temple consisted of a building called "the House of God," surrounded by a number of open courts, the outer ones including the inner. On the north of it wasthe Tower of Antonia; east, Valley of the Kedron; south, Ophel; west, Valley of the Tyropœon; and beyond, Mount Zion.
I.The Court of the Gentileswas the largest, and the first entered by a visitor from without. It was so named because it was the only part of the building in which foreigners were allowed; hence not regarded as sacred by the Jews. Speaking roughly, it was an open square, of about 1,000 feet on each side; more precisely, a quadrangle, whose inside measurements were 990 feet on the north, 1,000 on the east, 910 on the south, 1,060 on the west. On two sides there was a covered corridor; Solomon's Porch on the east, Herod's Porch on the south. It was entered on the north, east and south, by a single gate in each wall: north, the Gate Tedi, a staircase leading up to the Tower Antonia, from which Paul made his speech to the Jewish mob (Acts 22); east, the Gate Shushan, directly opposite to the altar, and leading to the Valley of the Kedron; south, the Gate Huldah, a subterranean passage through the floor of the court, which was here much higher than the ground outside the wall; west, four gates: the southern, near the angle of the wall, the Gate Shalleketh, or Kiponos, opening to a bridge over the Tyropœon; next, Gate Parbar; then, the South Gate of Asuppim; and near the northern corner of the wall, the North Gate of Asuppim. On the floor of this court was a market for the sale of sacrificial meats, with "tables of the money changers"; twice broken up by Jesus in his ministry. (John 2:14-16; Matt. 21:12, 13.) [Notice, in this account: 1. Name. 2. Dimensions. 3. Porches. 4. Gates. 5. Market.]
diagram: SECTION THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE TEMPLE FROM EAST TO WEST.
II.The Sacred Enclosurewas an elevated section in the northwestern part of the Court of the Gentiles, containing the sacred buildings. It was called by the Jews theChel(pronouncedKel). It stood 8 feet higher than the level of the surrounding court; and its outside measurement was 630 feet on the north and south, by 300 east and west. Its outer wall was a lattice wrought in stone, called Soreg, "interwoven," 4½ feet high, containing inscriptions in many languages, warning all foreigners not to enter it, under penalty of death. A fragment of this wall, with its inscription, was recently discovered in Jerusalem. Within this wall was a corridor 24 feet wide, containing an ascent of steps 8 feet high; and above them the inner wall, which was like that of a castle, very thick, from 40 to 60 feet high, and more than once used as a fortress by the Jews. Through both the outer lattice and the inner wall were nine gates, four each on the north and south; one on the east, opposite to the altar; but none on the west. Though most of the worshipers came from that side, the rear of the Temple stood toward it, and the front faced the east. The Chel, then, was a terrace of 24 feet, between two walls, an outer lattice and an inner castle. Paul was arrested under a false report of his having led Gentiles into this Sacred Enclosure. (Acts 21:28, 29.)
diagram: PLAN OF THE SACRED ENCLOSURE (HEROD'S TEMPLE).
III.The Court of the Women, often called "The Treasury," occupied a square in the eastern end of the Sacred Enclosure. Passing through the thick wall, the Jewish visitor (for none other was allowed to enter) found himself in an open court, about 240 feet square, surrounded by high walls, and 3 feet higher than the platform of the Chel. To this led four gates, or rather doors, in the middle of the wall on each side; that on the east, probably, being the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:2), and that on the west the Gate of Nicanor, because the head of Nicanor, a Syrian enemy of the Jews, had once been hung upon it. In each corner of the court was a room, open overhead, 60 feet square. That in the southeast was used for the ceremonies of the Nazarite's vow, and was the one where Paul was seized by the Jews (Acts 21:26); in the northeast, for the preparation of wood for the altar; in the northwest, for the ceremonies of cleansing for lepers; in the southwest, for the storage of sacrificial oil. Between these rooms were galleried cloisters, of which the upper story was set apart for women, who were not allowed to penetrate further into the Temple, but from the gallery over the Gate of Nicanor could witness the sacrifices. Around the wall were fastened 13 treasure-chests, for gifts of the worshipers, from which came the name "Treasury." (Mark 12:41, 42; John 8:20.) Under the floor of thiscourt was a subterranean passage from the Tower of Antonia, by which soldiers were sent to quell riots among the Jews, the opening being by the Gate Beautiful, over which was a guard-room. Through this passage the soldiers came who rescued Paul from the Jewish mob. (Acts 21:31, 32.) Under the steps leading up to the Gate Nicanor were two rooms in which musical instruments were stored for use at the festivals. [Review. 1. Names. 2. Dimensions. 3. Doors. 4. Rooms. 5. Galleries. 6. Treasure-chests. 7. Underground passage. 8. Music-rooms. 9. Scripture allusions.]
IV.The Court of Israel, or Court of the Men, occupied the western end of the Sacred Enclosure, and was a narrow corridor surrounding the Court of the Priests. It was 10 feet higher than the Court of the Women; 320 feet east and west, by 240 north and south. The width of the corridor on the north and south was 16 feet, and on the east and west 24 feet. It was the place where the men of Israel stood to view the sacrifices. On the outside of it rose the high inner wall of the Sacred Enclosure; on the inside, a low balustrade sufficed to separate it from the space set apart for the priests. Three gates led up to it on the north; as many on the south; and one, the Gate of Nicanor, on the east. In the wall on the north were chambers used severally for treasuries, guard, the storage of salt, the storage of hides and of earthenware. On the south, at its eastern corner, was the session-room of the Sanhedrim, called the Hall Gazith, and beyond it rooms in the wall for guard, storage, etc. In the Hall Gazith, the elders sat on seats of stone arranged in semicircular form. [Review. 1. Name. 2. Location. 3. Dimensions. 4. Purpose. 5. Walls. 6. Gates. 7. Rooms.]
V.The Court of the Priestswas a raised platform within the Court of Israel, and standing 3 feet above it. It was about 275 feet long, by 200 feet wide. It was mainly occupied by the House of God, in front of which stood the great Altar of Burnt Offering, built upon the stone which now rises under the Dome of the Rock. The altar was a rude structure of rough stone, whitewashed, and 15 feet high. From its southwestern corner an underground drain passed beneath all the courts to the brook Kedron. Opposite, also, to the southwestern corner, was the Laver, supplying water for the services and washings. Around the altar were marble tables for various uses in the sacrifices, and in the pavement were rings for securing the animals to be slain. [Review. 1. Name. 2. Dimensions. 3. Altar. 4. Drain. 5. Laver. 6. Tables, rings, etc.]
VI.The House of God, or Temple Proper, occupied more than half the space in the Court of the Priests. Its floor was 8 feet above the level of the surrounding court; and it had four parts. 1. The Porch, or Vestibule, extended across the front: it was 120 feet high, and consisted of several stories. Its roof was steep, and covered with golden spikes to keep birds from settling upon and defiling it. It was built of marble, and richly ornamented. 2. The Chambers were on each side of the house, but separate from it, and not attached to its wall. They were three stories high, and entered from the north and south by winding stairs. Their use was to furnish homes for the priests during their two weeks of service each year. 3. The Holy Place was 30 feet wide and 60 feet long, double the dimensions of the same room in the Tabernacle. It was entered from the vestibule by double doors plated with gold; and both floor and ceiling were covered with gold. On the right side of one entering was the Table, on which 12 loaves of unleavened bread were kept standing; on the left was the Lamp-stand, generally called (but incorrectly) the Golden Candlestick, for it held seven lamps, not candles; and at its further end was the golden Altar of Incense, lighted each day by coals from the Altar of Burnt Offering. In this room Zacharias received the promise of the birth of John the Baptist. (Luke 1.) 4. The Holy of Holies was a cube, each dimension being 30 feet. It was separated from the Holy Place by a vail, said to be 8 inches thick (but probably consisting of two vails 8 inches apart), which was rent from top to bottom at the hour of the Saviour's death on the cross. (Mark 15:38.) In the first Temple this room contained the Ark of the Covenant; but in the second and third Temples the place of the lost ark was taken by a marble stone, upon which the high priest laid the censer on the Day of Atonement, the only day in the year when the Holy of Holies was entered. The Roman conqueror, Pompey, insisted upon entering it, expecting to see some object of worship, and perhaps treasure, but was surprised to find nothing within the vail. [Review. 1. Porch. 2. Chambers. 3. Holy Place and contents. 4. Holy of Holies.]
OUTLINE FOR TEACHING AND REVIEW.
I. Let the teacher relate the history of the Temple, with its three periods of building, under Solomon, Zerubbabel and Herod, and review the class on the names and events.
II. Draw the elevations of the several courts and buildings, showing how they successively rose one above another, and, as each is indicated, give its name, and its elevation above the preceding. 1. Court of Gentiles. 2. Sacred Enclosure, 8 feet elevation. 3. Court of Women, 3 feet higher. 4. Court of Israel, 10 feet. 5. Court of the Priests, 3 feet. 6. House of God, 8 feet.
III. Draw next the ground plan of the six departments as given, and describe each, following the order given in the description above. Frequently review the class upon the names, dimensions and facts.
IV. Number the Scripture references given in the description, write them on slips of paper, distribute to the class, and call for them in connection with the parts of the Temple to which they refer. At the close call upon the class to name the Scripture incidents connected with each department.
Morethan two-thirds of the events of Bible history are associated with the land of Palestine, and a knowledge of that country and its principal places is needed by every Sunday School scholar and Bible student. Any Superintendent who will take ten minutes of the Sunday School session for the purpose or teaching Bible Geography, can in less than three months give to his school a sufficient knowledge of Palestine for the general needs of Bible study. The requisites are: a blackboard; some crayons (of various colors, if possible to obtain them); a clear idea on the part of the instructor of what he proposes to teach; precise statements of the things taught, in as few words as possible; giving nothing except the important facts which are to be remembered; and frequent reviews, from the beginning, of all the facts acquired. The lessons here given have been taught many times in Sunday Schools and children's classes at Assemblies, and are now published in the hope that they may be made generally useful.
drawn mapLesson I.
I. Draw in presence of the class, in white chalk, thetwo lines, one representing the Coast Line, the other, the Jordan Line. Notice that the cape on the Coast Line is one-third the distance from the top of the map; that the second of the three lakes is directly opposite to the cape; and that the distance between the second and third lakes is just six times that between the first and the second. The teacher may draw the lines in advance of the lesson, with a soapstone slate pencil, which will make a faint mark, not distinguishable at a distance, but seen by the teacher, and easily traced in presence of the class with white crayon. Let the class repeat the names of the two lines. 1. Coast Line. 2. Jordan Line.
II. Locate the differentBodies of Water, indicating their names by initial letters. 1. The Mediterranean Sea, on the west, called in the Bible "the Great Sea." 2. The river Jordan, flowing from north to south. 3. Lake Merom, on the north. 4. The Sea of Galilee. 5. The Dead Sea, into which the Jordan flows. Show the class that this sea lies so low, that, if a canal were cut to the Mediterranean, the ocean would run in, instead of the Dead Sea running out. Drill the class on: 1. Lines. 2. Bodies of Water.
Draw the same map as in Lesson I., but omit the lettering, and review the Lines and Waters.
I. State and drill upon theNamesby which the land has been known in different times. 1. In the earliest ages it was calledCanaan, because its best-known people were the Canaanites. 2. After the Israelites conquered it, it was known as theLand of Israel. 3. In the time of Christ it was generally calledJudæabecause the Jews were its inhabitants. 4. Its name is nowPalestine. [Write an initial or syllable of each name, and recall it from the class.]
II. Give theDistances. 1. Begin with the country best known, and state first the distance from America to Palestine, 7,800 miles. [Write on the board A. P. 7,800.]2. The Coast Line, from a point opposite the source of the Jordan to a point opposite the lower end of the Dead Sea,180miles. [Write C. L. 180.] 3. The Jordan Line, from its source to the lower end of the Dead Sea, 180 miles. [J. L. 180.] 4. From the Jordan to the Mediterranean, on the north, 30 miles. [J. M. 30.] 5. From the Dead Sea, at its southern end, to the Mediterranean, 90 miles. [D. S. M. 90.] 6. The most northern town in Palestine was Dan [mark D. on the map]; the most southern was Beersheba [mark B.]. Hence, to show the extent of the land, they said "from Dan to Beersheba," which was 150 miles in a straight line. [Write D. B. 150.] 7. Palestine, between the Jordan and the sea, includes about 6,600 square miles, which is a little smaller than Massachusetts. [Write S. M. 6,600.] Review the facts already given from the beginning. 1. Lines. 2. Waters. 3. Distances.
drawn mapLesson II.drawn mapLesson III.
drawn mapLesson II.
drawn mapLesson III.
Draw, as before, the outline of the map, and review all the facts already taught. 1. Lines. 2. Waters. 3. Names. 4. Distances. Test the memory of the class on these without giving the initials.
There are four Natural Divisions to Palestine; that is, four sections in the country, lying parallel with each other. Indicate them on the map in brown chalk, not making them very prominent.
1. We find theSea-Coast Plain[S. C. P.] extending along the Coast from north to south, narrow at the north, and wider at the south.
2. Further inland, we come to theMountain Region[M. R.], the backbone of the country, a section of hills and mountains, and the home of the Israelitish people.
3. Passing over the mountains, we find theJordanValley, a deep gorge, and deeper the further we travel southward, until, at the Dead Sea, it is more than 1,300 feet lower than the Mediterranean.
4. Still further eastward, we climb the steep mountains again, and reach theEastern Table-Land, a lofty plain sloping gradually to the great desert beyond it.
Review, as before. 1. Lines. 2. Waters. 3. Names. 4. Distances. 5. Natural Divisions.
drawn mapLesson IV.
Review, as usual, from the beginning, before commencing the advance lesson. The events of the Bible are often associated withMountains, of which there are many in Palestine. We select eight of the most important, group them in pairs, and state with each the fact which gives it interest.
On the north of the country, near the source of the Jordan, we find two mountains, nearly opposite to each other. 1.Mount Hermon, on the east, the highest mountain in Palestine, and the place where the Saviour was transfigured. 2.Mount Lebanon, on the west, famous for its cedars.
Next, we find two mountains nearly in line with the Sea of Galilee, one directly west and the other southwest of it. 3.Mount Carmel, by the Mediterranean, where Elijah called down fire from heaven upon the altar. 4.Mount Gilboa, where King Saul fell in battle with the Philistines.
In the centre of the country we find two mountains, where Joshua read the law to the Israelites. 5. On the north,Mount Ebal, the mount of cursing. 6. On the south,Mount Gerizim, the mount of blessing.
In the south, directly in line with the northern end of the Dead Sea, are two mountains. 7. On the west,Mount Olivet, or the Mount of Olives, where Jesus ascended. 8. On the east,Mount Nebo, where Moses died.
With each of these mountains the event associated might be briefly related. At the close, review as before. 1. Lines. 2. Waters. 3. Names. 4. Distances. 5. Divisions. 6. Mountains. Be sure that the class can name the event with each mountain.
This lesson may well be divided into from two to four sections, according to the time which can be given to it. Draw the map, as usual, from the beginning; and, as each subject is presented upon it, review the pupils, until all their past lessons are clearly fixed in mind. 1. Lines. 2. Waters. 3. Names. 4. Distances. 5. Natural Divisions. 6. Mountains. See that with each mountain, as it is located, the event connected with it is named.
We have now to fix the most importantPlacesin Palestine. We locate them by their arrangement in the Natural Divisions, and name an event for which each place is remembered.
I.Places in the Sea-Coast Plain.[These may constitute one lesson, if desired.] 1.Gaza, where Samson pulled down the idol temple upon the Philistines and himself. This lies on the Mediterranean, directly in line west of the middle point of the Dead Sea. 2.Joppa, the seaport of Palestine, from which the prophet Jonah started on his voyage. This lies nearly half way between Gaza and Mount Carmel. 3.Cæsarea, where Paul made his defense before King Agrippa, and was a prisoner for two years. This is a little more than half way between Joppa and Mount Carmel. 4.Tyre, the city which sent ships to all lands; a little further north of Mount Carmel than Cæsarea is south of it. As each place is named, locate it on the board, and mark it by an initial letter.
II. Another lesson may include the most importantPlaces in the Mountain Region. 1.Beersheba, the home of Abraham; opposite the lower bay of the DeadSea. 2.Hebron, where the patriarchs were buried; opposite the middle of the Dead Sea, and in line with Gaza. 3.Bethlehem, where David and Jesus were born, 6 miles south of Jerusalem. 4.Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine, where David reigned, and where Jesus was crucified; directly in line with the northern end of the Dead Sea. 5.Bethel, 10 miles north of Jerusalem, where Jacob saw the vision of the heavenly ladder. 6.Shechem, between the twin mountains of Ebal and Gerizim, where Jesus talked with the woman of Samaria. 7.Nazareth, where Jesus spent his boyhood; directly in line with the southern end of the Sea of Galilee.
drawn mapLesson V.
III.Places in the Jordan Valley.Two of these are near the northern end of the Dead Sea. 1.Jericho, west of the Jordan, where the walls fell down before the Israelites. 2.Bethabara, east of the Jordan, where Jesus was baptized. Two more are near the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. 3.Capernaum, where Jesus lived during his ministry, and wrought many miracles; on the northwestern shore of the sea. 4.Bethsaida, where Jesus fed the five thousand with five loaves; on the north of the sea. 5. The last is at the source of the river Jordan,Dan, the most northerly town in Palestine.
drawn mapLesson VI.
IV.Places in the Eastern Table-Land.There are not many in this section, because few events of Bible history took place there. 1.Machærus, where John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded; opposite the northern part of the Dead Sea. 2.Penuel, on the brook Jabbok, where Jacob wrestled with the angel. This is about midway between the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee. 3.Mahanaim, where David wept over Absalom's death. This is about half way between Penuel and the Sea of Galilee. 4.Cæsarea Philippi, at the foot of Mount Hermon, where Jesus taught his disciples.
It may be desirable not to give these places in a single lesson, but to divide it into two, or even four sections, and give one at a session. In that case, with each lesson all the places already located should be reviewed, together with the events associated with them. If the places can be marked upon the board in bright red chalk, they will be prominent.
Review from the beginning, as usual. 1. Lines. 2. Waters. 3. Names. 4. Distances. 5. Natural Divisions. 6. Mountains. 7. Places.
In this lesson we are to learn the Provinces, or parts of the country, in the time of Christ. We do not take the division by tribes; as that is more difficult to learn, and not often referred to in history. At the time when Christ was among men, Palestine was divided into five Provinces, though two of these were under one ruler.
I. Draw the boundary line ofJudæa, and write its initial, J. This was the southern province, and the largest. [Review the names of the places contained in it.] Its people were the Jews, or men of the tribe of Judah, and its principal city was Jerusalem.
II. North of Judæa was the province known asSamaria, having Shechem as its principal city. Its people were the Samaritans, with whom the Jews had no dealings. In Christ's day Judæa and Samaria were under one government. It contained the twin mountains Ebal and Gerizim.
III. North of Samaria wasGalilee, where Jesus lived during most of his life. Its people were also Jews, but were called "Galileans" by the Jews in Jerusalem; and in Christ's time it was under the rule of Herod, who slew John the Baptist. Notice the mountains and towns situated in it. Mountains: Lebanon and Gilboa; towns: Nazareth, Capernaum and Dan.
IV. On the east of the Jordan, and south of the Sea of Galilee, was the province ofPeræa, a word which means "beyond"; so named, because it is "beyond Jordan." Here Jesus taught at one time during his ministry, and blessed the little children. The places which we have noticed in it are Machærus, Bethabara, Penuel and Mahanaim; and its mountain, Nebo. This province, in Christ's day, was also ruled by King Herod.
V. The province north of Peræa and east of the Sea of Galilee is not named in the New Testament. We will call it by its Old Testament name,Bashan, a word meaning "woodland." It was ruled by a brother of Herod, named Philip, whose title was "tetrarch"; hence it is sometimes called "Philip's Tetrarchy." The mountain we have noticed in it is Hermon, and the two places, Bethsaida, and Cæsarea Philippi, or "Philip's Cæsarea," to distinguish it from the other Cæsarea, by the sea-shore.
At the close of the lesson, review once more from the very beginning of the series; then erase the map, and, pointing to the places on an "invisible map," call for their names from the class. There can scarcely be too much reviewing of these leading facts, in order to impress them on the scholar's memory.
ARCHES IN THE TEMPLE AREA.
Thestudent of the Bible meets with some difficulty in adapting the names of weights, measures and coins, to the standards now in use, and finds that the authorities are not agreed upon the precise signification of the Bible terms used in relation to these subjects. These difficulties and discrepancies arise from three facts: 1. The Oriental mind has never been accustomed to the exactness of our systems of measurement. Among eight cubit measures found on the Egyptian monuments, no two were precisely alike. 2. The models or standards of weights and measures referred to in Hebrew history were long ago lost, and it is not easy to reproduce them. 3. The Jews adopted the measurements of peoples among whom they were dispersed, yet often retained the names of such of their own as were nearest to them in amount, so that at different periods in Bible history the standard was different. The same word may refer to different measurements at different times. We have adopted in this section the measurements of F. R. and C. R. Conder in "The Hand Book of the Bible," except where other authorities are specified.
drawing of two hands and an armSMALLER MEASURES OF LENGTH.
I.Smaller Measures of Length.1. The lowest dimension, as in our own table of linear measure, was the Barleycorn. 2. Two barleycorns laid endways made the Finger-breadth (Hebrew, Atzbah), two-thirds of an inch. 3. Four finger-breadths made the Palm (Heb., Tupah), 22/3inches. 4. Sometimes the Hand-breadth and Palm are the same; elsewhere, the hand-breadth (Heb., Zereth) is double the palm, or 51/3inches. 5. Three palms made the Span (Heb., Sit), 8 inches, the width of the outspread hand, from the end of the thumb to that of the little finger. 6. Four palms made the Foot (Heb., Regal), 102/3inches. 7. Six palms made the Cubit (Heb., Ameh), 16 inches (Conder), or the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, when held in a straight line. The cubit, however, varied (just as the pound with us varies in troy and avoirdupois weight), as indicated in the expressions "the cubit of a man" (Deut. 3:11), "a great cubit" (Ezek. 41:8), etc. In the length of the cubit, authorities vary from 15 to 21 inches. We have adopted the general opinion, and place it, conjecturally, at a foot and a half, or 18 inches.
II.Larger Measures of Length.The cubit (reckoned more precisely at 16 inches) is here regarded as the unit of measurement. 1. The Fathom was 6 or 6½ feet. 2. The Reed (Heb., Keneh; compare our wordcane) was 4 cubits, according to Conder, but 6 cubits according to other authorities, thus varying between 51/3feet and 8 feet. 3. The Furlong (named only in the New Testament) was a Greek measurement (Stadium), of 606¾ feet, or 53¼ feet less than our furlong. 4. The Mile (Matt. 5:41) was 1,618 yards. The Hebrew mile is not referred to in the Bible, but was of two kinds, "the small mile" (Heb., Mil), being about 1,000 cubits, or about a quarter of our mile; and "the long mile," twice as far. 5. The Sabbath Day's Journey is stated by Conder at 2,000 cubits, or half an English mile; but by most other writers at seven-eighths of our mile. 6. The Day's Journey was variable, from 10 to 30 miles; generally about 20 miles. So most authorities decide, but Conder gives it at 4¾ miles.
III.Dry Measures of Capacity.1. The Cab (2 Kings 6:25), 96 cubic inches, or 675 thousandths of a quart. 2. The Omer (Exod. 16:36) contained 1728/10cubic inches, or about 2½ quarts. 3. The Seah (in Greek, Modios) was the ordinary household measure of quantity, translated, generally, "measure" in our Bibles, but in Matt. 5:15 "bushel." It contained six times as much as the cab, or a little over a peck; according to Conder, 1.012 pecks; according to the Revised Version (Matt. 13:33, marginal note), a peck and a half. 4. The Ephah (Exod. 16:36) contained 3 seahs, or 10 omers; about three-quarters of a bushel. 5. The Cor contained 10 ephahs, or 7½ bushels. The cor is also called "the homer" (Isa. 5:10), which is to be carefully distinguished from the omer, which contained one-hundredth of its quantity. The two words are not alike in the Hebrew. It will be noticed that the omer, the ephah and the cor (or homer) formed a decimal scale of measurement.
drawing of cylindersDRY MEASURES.
IV.Liquid Measures of Capacity.1. The Auphauk (not named in the Bible) was the smallest, containing 6 cubic inches, or 675 thousandths of a gill. 2. The Log (Lev. 14:10), four times as large as the auphauk, was "six egg-shells full," 24 cubic inches, or a little more than half a pint (675 thousandths). 3. The Hin (Exod. 29:40) contained 12 logs, or a little over a gallon. 4. The Seah (see above, under Dry Measures) contained twice as much as the hin. 5. The Bath, containing 3 seahs or 6 hins, contained 1,728 cubic inches, or 6.036 gallons. Besides these, the New Testament names two Greek measures, the Metretes (John 2:6, "firkins"), equivalent to 101/3gallons; and the Chœnix (Rev. 6:6, "measure"), about a pint and a half.
drawing of containers that are mostly cylindrical, wider at the bottomLIQUID MEASURES.
V.Measures of Weight.(From the Oxford Teacher's Bible.) 1. The Gerah, "a bean," weighed a little less than half of a dram avoirdupois (.439 dram). 2. The Bekah, 10 gerahs, weighed about a quarter of an ounce (4.39 drams). The word means "half,"i. e., of a shekel. 3. The Shekel, "weight," used as a silver coin, 2 bekahs, weighed 8.9 drams. 4. The Maneh (Greek, Mina), 60 shekels (Conder says 50 shekels, which would agree with paragraph VI., below), 2 lbs. 1 oz. 5. The Talent, "circle," meaning "an aggregate sum," 50 manehs, weighing 102 lbs. 14 ozs. The weights are of lower degree than those in common use at present, because in the early times money was weighed, and not counted, and exact weighing was necessary with gold and silver.
VI.Measures of Value.Two systems of money are referred to in the Bible: the Hebrew, or that in use in Old Testament times and lands; and the Roman, which was used during the New Testament period. In the Hebrew system the weights referred to in paragraph V. were used in silver as measures of value. 1. The Gerah (Exod. 30:13) was the lowest, and was worth 2¾ cents. 2. The Bekah, 10 gerahs (Exod. 38:26), was worth 2737/100cents, or about 2 cents more than our quarter of a dollar. 3. The Shekel, 2 bekahs, was worth 54¾ cents, or about 5 cents more than half a dollar. 4. The Maneh, or Mina, 50 shekels (Luke 19:13, "pound"), $27.37½. 5. The Talent of Silver, 60 manehs, $1,642.50. 6. The Talent of Gold was nearly twenty times as valuable, being estimated at $26,280. 7. So the Shekel of Gold was worth, in the same proportion of weight with the ordinary shekel of silver, $8.75. It is to be remembered that a given amount of coin in those times would purchase ten times as much as now.
coinThis is a copper coin, a quarter-gerah, worth about half a cent; was made about the time of Alexander the Great, B.C. 325.coinA silver coin, three-quarters of a shekel, called arighia, used especially for paying the temple tax. It was worth about 40 cents.CoinThe smallest copper coin in use among the Jews, thelepton, called in Hebrewchalcous, "copper money." The widow's mite was of this coin.CoinThe denarius, or penny, bearing the face of the emperor Tiberius.
This is a copper coin, a quarter-gerah, worth about half a cent; was made about the time of Alexander the Great, B.C. 325.
A silver coin, three-quarters of a shekel, called arighia, used especially for paying the temple tax. It was worth about 40 cents.
The smallest copper coin in use among the Jews, thelepton, called in Hebrewchalcous, "copper money." The widow's mite was of this coin.
The denarius, or penny, bearing the face of the emperor Tiberius.
The Greek and Roman coins are chiefly referred to in the New Testament. The smallest was the Lepton (Mark 12:42, "mite"), worth a fifth of a cent. 2. The Quadrans (Mark 12:42, "farthing"), 2 mites, or less than half a cent. 3. The Assarion (Matt, 10:29, "farthing"), four times the quadrans, or 13/5cents. Notice that two coins, one worth four times as much as the other, are both translated "farthing" in our version. 4. The Denarius (Matt, 22:19, "penny"), 10 times the assarion, or 16 cents. It was the latter which in Christ's time bore the face of the Roman emperor.
photoBETHANY.
(SURROUNDING COUNTRY INCLUDED.)
EXPLANATION.—The letter and number following each name show its location on the map. The name will be found at or near the intersection of a vertical line drawn between the letters top and bottom and a horizontal line between the figures on either side.
EXPLANATION.—The letter and number following each name show its location on the map. The name will be found at or near the intersection of a vertical line drawn between the letters top and bottom and a horizontal line between the figures on either side.
AbamaR-11ArrabehG-20BesumJ-18DraaJ-30AbbinM-20ArrabehI-17BethanyH-25DulbehR-12AbdonG-15ArsufD-22BetharF-21DumaL-6AbilJ-13AryR-19Beth DagonD-24DumaP-11AbilinG-17AscalonB-26BethelG-24DumahF-28AbudG-23AshdodC-26Beth GamulP-21DummarO-11Acco PtolemaisF-16AsherI-21Beth HoglaJ-25DuraF-27AcrabiH-23AskulanB-26BethhoronG-24DurisN-8AcreF-16AshkutL-8Beth JesimothK-25EaumiaI-28AcreO-15AstifaF-18BethlehemG-26Ecdippi AchzibF-15AdlanH-12AtaibehR-11Beth NimrahK-24Ed DurP-17AdonisJ-7AtaraG-21BethsheanJ-20EdhraO-17AdrhaR-11AtarothK-27Beth ShemeshF-26EglonD-27AfkaL-7AthlitE-18Beth TappuahF-27EhdenM-5AhiryQ-16AtilR-17BethzurF-27EibP-5AiH-24AtnyS-8BilhasL-7EidumM-20Ain AtaN-6AttilF-21BirehG-24EjlilD-22Ain BaradaN-10AttirF-29Bir es SebaD-29EkronD-25Ain BurdaiO-8AtufI-22BirwehG-16El alL-25Ain FeshkhahI-26AulamJ-18Bir ZeitG-24El BatrumJ-5Ain HaudhE-18AuranitisP-18BisriJ-11El BelkaK-26Ain JiddyI-28AurneyM-13Biut JebeilI-15El BellanN-12Ain YebrudH-24Ayun ed DuraP-9BlaburaL-6El BukaaM-10AithyM-10Ayun el AlakS-5BludanN-10El BukeiaI-16AjalonF-25AzzunF-22Botal MeonL-26El BurjE-28AjlanD-27BaalbekO-7BotrysJ-6El BurjI-13AjlunL-21Baal MeorL-26BozrahR-19El DaumehF-28AjiltunK-8BabdaJ-9BrummanaJ-8El DekwaT-12AkirD-25Bahret BalaT-14BsherrehM-6ElealehL-25AkkaF-16Bahret el AteibehT-12BudeihN-7EleutheropolisE-27Akka, Plain ofG-16Bahret el HijanehS-13BukfeiyaK-8El FejjehE-23AkkabaI-21Bahr TubariyehK-17BukhaR-8El FuhaisL-24AkobarP-10BakahF-20BurakQ-14El FulehH-19AkrabehH-23BalaQ-11BurdS-19El FureidisJ-10AkurahL-7BalinD-26BurkaC-25El FutianN-27AllanL-22BaniasK-14BurmehM-22El GhorJ-23AlleikahK-15Bar EliasM-9BusrahR-19El GhorJ-31AlmaJ-15BashanO-17ByblusJ-7El GhuzlaniyehQ-12AmaadK-19BatanæaT-16BzizaL-5El HadethJ-9AmalehK-18BathaniyehS-17CabulH-17El HadethN-8AmatehK-21BathaniyehT-16CæsareaD-20El HatherL-13AmathusK-21BatnehK-23Cæsarea PhilippiK-14El HerathK-22AmkahG-16BatrunyN-10CallirhoeJ-27El HishL-15AmmanN-24BecharF-21CanaH-18El HusmM-19AmmikL-10BeerothG-24CapercotiaH-20El JisrK-7AmmonitesM-25Beer ShebaD-29CarmelG-28El KanaN-8AmshirJ-6Beer Sheba, Desert ofD-30Castellum PeregrinorumD-18El KerakM-8AmwasE-25BeirutI-8ChesallothI-18El KhulilG-27AmyanL-5Beit AuwaE-28ChorazinK-16El KirehG-19AnabF-28Beit DejanD-24ConnaQ-5El KudsG-25AnatJ-11Beit DirdisB-27ConventE-17El KuseinF-30AnathothH-25Beit er RasM-19CoreæH-23EllarG-21Anti-LebanonR-6Beit FarE-25DaberathI-18El LatronE-25AntipatrisE-22Beit IdisK-20Dahr el AhmarL-11El LisanJ-29AnzT-20Beit ImrimH-21DamascusP-11El MejdelC-26ApolloniaD-22BeitinG-24DamascusR-9El MerjL-9Ar (Rabbath Moab)L-29Beit JalaG-26Damet el AlyahQ-16El MezzehO-11ArabaI-17Beit JennM-13DanK-13El MokhrahO-7AradG-29Beit JibrinE-27DareiyaO-12El MukhtarahJ-10ArairL-28Beit KurmK-29Dead SeaJ-28Er-RihaL-28Arak el EmirM-24Beit LahmG-18DecapolisQ-16El TellK-16AramunJ-9Beit LahmG-26Deir AlyP-14ElusaD-31ArarO-18Beit LidF-22Deir el AhmarN-7EndorI-18ArarahF-30Beit LunaI-11Deir el KamrJ-10En-gannimI-20ArbelaN-19Beit NebalaE-24DennaJ-19En-gediI-28ArbinP-11Beit Ur TahtaG-25DeratO-18Ephraim, Mountains ofF-23Ard AsjerahK-16BekaS-20DhekirR-15ErihaJ-25Ard el HulehJ-14BelatI-10DhibanL-27Er RamH-25AreiyaK-9BelatehN-25DibbinM-21Er RemthehN-19AreopolisL-29BelfortJ-13DibonL-28Esdraelon, Plain ofH-19ArnauK-6BereikutG-26DillyO-16EsdudC-26ArnonL-28BereitanO-8DimasN-11EshmiskinO-17ArnunI-13BerkhaO-6DinnehB-27Es SaltL-23ArnyM-13BeryaI-10DimeskP-12Es SamiehI-24AroerF-30BerytusI-8DimonahF-31Es SawafirC-26AroerL-28BesharaI-14DoroaP-17Es SemuyJ-16