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TABLE of MEASURES, WEIGHTS, and MONEY, and of TIME, mentioned in the HOLY SCRIPTURES.

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Money, in Value.

This is a subject of a very difficult nature for money is mere relative property; and its value consists in the quantity of things useful to life, which it will purchase. Now it is certain, that the same weight, either of brass, silver, or gold, will at one time, and in one place, purchase far more of these things, than in another time and place : and probably, an ounce of silver, in any of the times of which the scripture treats, would purchase as much as three, or four, or five ounces now would. All therefore that can be attempted on this head, is to show the relative value of the money mentioned in scripture, as computed in the money of this age and nation. An ounce of silver is generally, I believe, coined into something more than five shillings: but as minute exactness is not the object in this place, the computation will be made at that price.

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The Drachma

The Beka, or Didrachma

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8

The Shekel, or Stater

The Manch, or pound.

Wine Gal. Qts. Pints.

The Talent.

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The Ephah, or Bath, or Batus, (Luke xvi. 6), (about)

The Chomer, or Homer, 10 Ephahs (This should carefully be distinguished from the Omer, which is only a hundredth part of it.)

Some think the Kor, or Kopos, Luke xvi. 7; to be the same as the Chomer; but this is not fully agreed on.

The firkin, as mentioned John ii. 6, is differently computed. Some think it contained.

The measure, or Choenix, mentioned Rev. vi. 6. seems to have been the daily allowance made of corn to a slave, perhaps rather more than

That mentioned 2 Kings vii. 1, is supposed to have contained about

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A Talent of gold, (at 16 of silver to one of gold).

N. B. Some learned men compute each of these lower, and

some higher. But this appears to be about the mean between discordant opinions.

Roman Money mentioned in the New Testament.

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Learned men state the names of the months, and their relation to the months into which we divide the year, as follows; but all the names, mentioned, are not found in scripture. Of those which are, a reference to some text, in which it is named, will be annexed.

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1 Nisan, (Neh. ii. 1.) or Abib (Ex. xiii. 4.) 2 Zif, (1 Kings vi. 2.) or Jyar 3 Sivan, (Esth. viii. 9.) 4 Tamuz, or Thamuz 5 Ab

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April, May.

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May, June.

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June, July.

July, August.

£. Oz. Pen. Grs.

6 Elul, (Neh. vi. 15.)

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N. B. Some make the Shekel, according to which all other weights are computed, rather less than in this table; and others rather more.

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This last month was added, or intercalated, from time to time; when the twelve lunar months, falling considerably short of a solar year, introduced such an irregularity in the seasons as was inconsistent with the observance of the sacred festivals at the proper time. This month being on those occasions added, between the end of Adar the twelfth month, and the beginning of Nisan the first month, brought back the computation of the year to some degree of regularity. It answered the purpose, in some measure, which the 29th of February every fourth year, does in our days: viz. to preserve a coincidence between the twelve months which constitute the year, and the actual yearly revolution of the earth round the sun. But the intercalated month by no means settled the calculations of the Israelites, in that degree of exactness to which astronomers have at present reduced it. The months of Israel as here stated, are supposed to answer each to the closing half of the former, and the first part of the latter of our months, and especially the absolute necessity which there was for them, must considerably deduct from accuracy in all these calculations. They are, however, sufficiently exact for all useful purposes.

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The days of the week were numbered by the Israelites in their order, the first, the second, &c.; the seventh, or last day of the week, being the sabbath; but it does not appear that they had any names affixed to them.

Their days were generally reckoned from the setting of the sun to the next setting of the sun, according to the original arrangement; "The evening and the morning were the first day."

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Both the night, from sun-set to sun-rise; and the day, from sun-rise to sun-set, were divided into twelve hours; which must have been unequal in their length at different seasons of the year. It should, however, be remembered, that the land of promise being situated much nearer the Equator, the difference in the length of the days in summer and winter; and of the nights, during winter, in proportion to the days, was far less, than in this country.— Some, however, think, with much probability, that the division of time into hours was introduced by the Romans. The word hour, as used in some places of the Old Testament, does not seem to denote a measure of time; but merely the coincidence of events.

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The night likewise, from sun-set to sun-rise, was, among the Israelites, divided into four watches.-Supposing the sun to set at six o'clock, according to our computation; the first watch reached from 6 to 9; the second, from 9 to 12; the third, from 12 to 3; and the fourth, from 3 to 6, or sun-rising.

A TABLE of the STATES, OFFICES, and DESCRIPTIONS of MEN. Apostles. Persons selected by Jesus Christ, to be witnesses of his life, death, and especially of his resurrection, to mankind; the repositories of his holy doctrine, by whom it was to be communicated to the nations through their preaching and writings; so that to the end of the world their writings are to be appealed to, as the standard of truth and duty. They were in number twelve; and on the apostacy of Judas, Matthias was selected to fill up his place. Matt. x. 2-4. Acts i. 15-26.

Deacons. Persons appointed by the church, under the counsel and direction of the apostles, to take care of the poor, and the secular concerns of the churches; from whom, however, it seems evident that elders and evangelists were chosen and sent forth.

Evangelists. For many ages this word has been appropriated to denote the writers of the four narratives which have been transmitted to us, as have been transmitted to us, as of divine authority, concerning the miracles, life, doctrine, death, and resurrection of our Saviour; but in the New Testament it signifies

certain persons who, under the authority and by the direction of the apostles, were employed to regulate and establish the churches which they had planted, or to plant new ones. They seem to be distinguished from stated pastors or bishops, as modern missionaries are from resident ministers..

Bishops. The same persons are called elders, bishops, and pastors; but as there were several in the larger chris-preachers of the gospel; yet with a special reference to tian societies, order in the affairs of the church required that one should become the president or chairman, and the person of the greatest influence, whether arising from his age, experience, or talents, would naturally be appointed to this office. As the church increased in numbers and wealth, this president or chairman assumed the title of bishop, while his co-partners were called elders or presbyters; and from this humble beginning arose Episcopacy in one church, which extended its claims over neighbouring churches, then over provinces, until at length it reached its zenith in the spiritual monarchy of the pope.

Elders. Used for persons advanced in years; but most frequently means the Jewish magistrates, who formed the council or court, called sanhedrim; and after the gospel was promulgated, it means the stated and ordinary pastors of the church.

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Epicureans. A sect of heathen philosophers, who asCenturion. An officer in the Roman army, command-cribed all things and events to chance; and who accounted ing one hundred men. pleasure the chief good.

STATES, OFFICES, &c.

Hebrew. One lineally descended from Abraham; and not one who had been proselyted, or whose ancestors had been proselyted.

Herodians. Persons who paid their court to Herod, and like him, conformed in many things to the Roman customs. They are supposed to have been Sadducees.

Israelites. This is the proper name of the whole,na, tion, as descended from Jacob or Israel; but became appropriate to the ten tribes after their revolt from the house of David.

· Jews. The descendants of Judah, with the Levites, Benjaminites, and others, who joined themselves to Judah, and adhered to the house of David after the revolt of the ten tribes. After the Babylonish captivity, the term is applied to all the people who returned, and now is used to denote any Israelite, from whatever tribe he may have descended.

Kings. These were not appointed at first, but God himself was considered as the king of Israel. The people desiring to be like the surrounding nations, a king was granted to them, Saul, a Benjaminite. For his disobedience to the divine will, he was rejected, and David chosen, in whose family the crown became hereditary, and continued, in respect to his own tribe, at least until the captivity.

Leviles. The descendants of Levi, by Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, who were not of the race of Aaron; but in many respects they were servants to the priests, though some of them were teachers and rulers in Israel.

Nazarene. A name at first given to Christ, afterwards to his followers, and then to an heretical sect.

Nethinims. Servants to the priests and Levites, for the meaner and more laborious offices, being the descendants of the Gibeonites; and of others, who were devoted voluntarily to these services.

Nicolailans. A corrupt sect of professing christians, resembling, in their opinions and practices, the wicked Antinomians of modern times.

Patriarchs. Fathers and heads of families, who even tually became great and renowned in Israel; as the twelve sons of Jacob. The term also denotes the ancient worthies of the church, as Noah, Abraham, &c.

Pharisees. Separists, who pretended to more than ordinary strictness in the externals of religion; and observed the traditions of the elders. See Introduction. Priest, high. The priest of the race of Aaron, who was allowed to enter into the most Holy place once in the year; and was constituted chief ruler of the Jewish church. In his office he was a special type of Christ.

Priest, the second. He, as is generally supposed, who was appointed to officiate, in case the High priest was by any circumstance unqualified.

Priests, chief. The heads, or principal persons of the twenty-four courses, into which the sons of Aaron were divided by David, that they might minister by rotation.

Prophets. These were anciently called seers. They were extraordinary ministers of religion, whom God raised up to reform the church of Israel, to predict future events, and make known the divine will to mankind; especially to foretel the coming of the Messiah, his sufferings, and the glory that should follow.

Prophets, sons of the. Persons educated in the schools of the prophets, from the days of Samuel, who instituted them; from whom God frequently called men to the prophetic office; and who on many occasions were extraordinary teachers of religion, when the priests and Levites neglected their duty.

Proselyte. A person from another nation, who was incorporated into the church of Israel, by receiving circumcision, and becoming obedient to the law of Moses. Learned men mention various kinds of proselytes, but the scripture does not.

Publicans. Tax-gatherers under the Romans. The principal publicans formed large districts at an annual rent, and were aided by the Roman armies in obtaining their demands; and, the inferior publicans were servants to them.

Rabbies, Doctors, Lawyers. Scribes, who had attained to certain degrees of eminency and reputation in their profession, and who were distinguished in a similar manner to that of learned men, who are honoured with degrees by modern universities.

Sadducees. A sect among the Jews, who at first adhered to the law of Moses, in opposition to the traditions of the elders, but by degrees degenerated, and became nearly infidels, denying the existence of angels and spirits, and the resurrection of the dead.

Samaritans. The descendants of those nations whom. the kings of Assyria established in the country, from which they took away the ten tribes of Israel; and with whom were united some Jews and priests, who apostatized from the purity of their laws and religion. This produced the greatest enmity between them and the Jews, so that in the mouth of a Jew, a Samaritan was a most odious name.

Scribes. Learned men among the Jews, whose professed object was to explain and enforce the law of God, from the days of Ezra, to those of our Lord. Under the kings of Israel and Judah, the word scribe means secretary, i. e. to the king.

Tetrarchs. Persons, each of whom were appointed by the Romans to govern a fourth part of the kingdom of Herod the Great.

Tershatha. The governor of the Jews, appointed by the Persian kings after the captivity.

GENERAL INDEX

TO THE

HOLY BIBLE;

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GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF THE MOST REMARKABLE THINGS RELATED, THE TIME WHEN THEY HAPPENED, AND THE PLACES IN WHICH THEY ARE RECORDED.

A.M. B. C.

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THE self-existent and eternal Jehovah, having decreed to manifest his power, wisdom, and goodness, in the creation of the material and intelligent universe, at length called into being the heavens and the earth, with all their inhabitants and hosts. He formed man after his own image, placed him in Paradise, made a covenant with him, promising a continuance of his happiness to obedience, and denouncing death as the penalty of transgression. As the natural Head of the human race, this covenant involved all his posterity; and on his fall they fell in and with him. Rom. v. 12-21. 1 Cor. xv. 22. God being infinitely merciful as well as holy and just, while he condemned Adam to suffer diseases and at length death, promised a Saviour, the seed of the woman. Gen. i.-iii,

Adam and Eve are expelled Paradise; and doomed to cultivate the ground, and eat their bread in the sweat of their brow. They have children; but only Cain and Abel are mentioned. Gen. iv. 1, 2. 129 3875

130 3874 235 3769

325 3679

Near to this time Cain and Abel offer sacrifice; and Cain, provoked at the preference shown to Abel and his offering, rises up against, and kills him. Gen. iv. 4-8. Heb. xi. 4. and 1 John iii. 12. Cain is punished; but his life is spared, and his posterity greatly increased. Gen. iv. 11—24.

Seth is born, in whom Eve hoped to find the same piety as in Abel. Gen. iv. 25.

Enos is born; and about this time serious men were called by the Name of Jehovah, 'Jehovah's people,' worshippers of him, as opposed to the wicked. Gen. iv. 26.

Cainan born. Gen. v. 9.

Mahalaleel born. Gen. v. 12.

395, 3609

460 3544

Jared born. Gen. v. 15.

622 3382

687 3317

874 3130

930 3074 987 3017

1042 2962

1056 2948 1140 2864 1235 2769

1290 2714 1422 2582 1535 2469

Enoch, the seventh in direct descent from Adam, born. Gen. v. 18.

Methuselah born. Gen. v. 21.

Lamech, the father of Noah, born. Gen. v. 25.

Adam dieth, aged nine hundred and thirty years. Gen. v. 5.

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Enoch, having predicted the last judgment, and lived three hundred and sixty-five years, was trans

lated to heaven without dying. Gen. v. 23, 24. Heb. xi. 5. Jude 14, 15.

Seth dieth, aged nine hundred and twelve years. Gen. v. 8.

Noah, the father and patriarch of the New World after the flood, born. Gen. v. 28.

Enos, the third from Adam, dieth, aged nine hundred and five years. Gen. v. 11.

Cainan dieth, aged nine hundred and ten years. Gen. v. 14.

Mahalaleel, the fifth from Adam, dieth, aged eight hundred and ninety-five years. Gen. v. 17.
Jared, the sixth from Adam, dieth, aged nine hundred and sixty-two years. Gen. v. 20.

God commands Noah to preach repentance, and to build the Ark, one hundred and twenty years before the flood. Gen. vi. 3. 1 Pet. iii. 20.

1556 2448 To Noah, aged five hundred years, is born Japheth, and two years after Shem, and then Ham. Gen.

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v. 32.

Lamech, the ninth from Adam, dieth, aged seven hundred and seventy-seven years. He is the first man mentioned in scripture, as dying before his father. Gen. v. 31.

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GENERAL INDEX TO THE HOLY BIBLE.

B. C. Methuselah, who lived longer than any other of the antediluvians, reaching to his nine hundred and sixty-ninth year, dieth a little before the flood. Gen. v. 27.

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2082 1922

2083

2084

1921

The flood comes upon the earth in the six hundredth year of Noah, and destroys all flesh, except Noah and his family, and the animals with him in the Ark. Gen. vii. 11. Matt. xxiv. 37-39.

The most ancient nations have had among them traditions of the creation, the paradisiacal state, the fall of man, the longevity of the antediluvians, the number of generations before the flood; but the memory of the flood, with the destruction of mankind and the singular preservation of Noah and his family, has been preserved, in one way or another, most complete and pure. The Chaldeans, Phoenicians, Egyptians, and Indians, have in their histories recorded, under other names indeed, the facts related by Moses; and thus undesignedly contribute to establish the truth of the sacred historian.

The flood ceases; the ark rests on mount Ararat, and Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives, and the animals come out of the ark. Noah offers sacrifices; God makes a covenant with him, and constitutes the rain-bow a sign of it, that he will no more destroy the earth with a flood; he allows him to eat flesh, and forbids murder. Not long after Noah plants a vineyard; is drunk with the wine of it; and from the behaviour of his sons foretels the future condition of their seed. Gen. viii. ix. Isa. liv. 8-10. Arphaxad is born. Gen. xi. 10.

Salah is born. Gen. xi. 12.

Heber is born. Gen. xi. 14.

Peleg is born; and was so called because in his days the earth was divided among the posterity of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Gen. xi. 16.

About this time Nimrod becomes great, and is supposed to have laid the first foundation of the Assyrian monarchy; and Nineveh, the future metropolis of it is built. Gen. x. 8, 11.

Men having again become corrupt, a body of them travelled from the east, until they reached the plains of Shinar, or of Chaldea, and formed the project of becoming famous by building a Tower, whose top might reach the heavens. After labouring for some time they differed, and separated; and the Tower was called Babel, because God confounded their language, by sending a spirit of discord among them; and they were scattered abroad. Gen. xi. 4-9.

Reu is born. Gen. xi. 18.

Mizraim, the grandson of Ham, is supposed to have led a colony into Egypt, and to lay the foundation of a kingdom, which became powerful, and continued for the space of one thousand, six hundred and sixty-three years; whence Egypt is called the Land of Ham. Ps. cv. 23. Isa. xix. 12,

Serug is born. Gen. xi. 20.

Nahor is born. Gen. xi. 22.

Terah, the father of Abraham, is born. Gen. xi. 24.

Peleg, the sixth from Noah, dieth. Gen. xi. 19.

Nahor, the ninth from Noah, dieth. Gen. xi. 25.

Noah dieth, aged nine hundred and fifty years, three hundred and fifty years after the flood. Gen.

ix. 28.

Abram is born. Gen. xi. 32.

Sarai, the wife of Abram, was born ten years after her husband. Gen. xvii. 17.

Reu, the seventh from Noah, dieth. Gen. xi. 21.

Serug, the eighth from Noah, dieth. Gen. xi. 23.

About this time Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, subdues Sodom, Gomorrah, &c. and they serve him twelve years. Gen. xiv. 1, &c.

Terah with his family leaveth Ur of the Chaldeans, and after dwelling five years at Haran, dies there. Gen. xi. 31.

Abram, on the death of his father, by the special call and direction of God, departs from Haran, with Sarai, his wife, and Lot his nephew, and comes into the Land of Canaan, which God promises to give to his seed, and that in his seed, (Christ) all the families of the earth should be blessed. Gen, xii. 1-3. Josh. xxiv. 2, 3. Ps. cv. 9-15. Acts vii. 2-5. Gal. iii. 16.

1920 The next year a famine in the land of Canaan obligeth Abram with his family and Lot, to go down to Egypt. From this descent to Egypt to the departure of the children of Israel out of it, are reckoned the four hundred and thirty years, the period of the sojourning and affliction of Abram and his seed. Gen. xv. 13. Exod. xii. 40, 41. Gal. iii. 17.

In this same year Abram and Lot return to Canaan, but the land not being sufficient to support their

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