The weights and measures in the Bible are in large part based upon the weights and measures which were accepted by the ancient peoples, the names of the measures also being the same. 5:10b (see *Targum ), and later sources down to modern Palestine Arab usage). An allusion to a similar reckoning is found in the Bible in a verse which expresses acreage in terms of volume of seed requirement: "And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed" ( I Kings 18:32 see also Jer.
This type of reckoning is not found in the Bible though it was certainly known in Israel. There, even complex reckoning was carried out to determine the equivalence between the different categories, that is, to reckon volume in terms of weight or area, and the like. Various systems of measurement developed in the large cultural centers of Egypt and Mesopotamia from a very early period. As time progressed, the measures were improved and made more precise, but they were still called by their ancient names. For that reason, most of the first measures were natural or common physical phenomena, such as the palm of the hand, a day's journey, seeds of grain, and simple utensils. Therefore even in very ancient periods fixed measurements were established, initially for barter, estimation of distances, etc., and later for more complex needs such as building, the division of land, the digging of canals, and others. Metrological Systems in the Bible and the Ancient Near EastĪn authoritative and accepted system of weights for buying and selling, building, measuring areas, and the like is a necessity of civilized life. Rabbinic legislation went so far as to demand the periodic cleaning of weights, scales, and measures lest their true standard be impaired by dirt ( BB 5:10 see also BB 89a-b). The first legislation in the interest of economic righteousness in general is found in Leviticus 19:35 and Deuteronomy 25:13–16, and the prophets constantly denounced the use of false measures (Amos 8:5 Hos.
From the earliest period of their history the Jews were alive to the necessity of an accurate system of weights and measures, and an honest handling of them.
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