1 cubit = 17.75 inches (1ft 5¾ ins)
Large (royal) cubit = 20.75 inches (1 ft 8¾ ins)
A cubit was formed of the breadth of six hands or twenty-four fingers and equal to 1 ft. 5 3/4 inches; the large or royal cubit, was a handbreadth (three inches) longer. The lesser cubit of six hands, or twenty-four fingers, also existed in the eastern empire, but there it was somewhat longer, being equal to 1 ft. 7 1/3 inches. The large or royal cubit was likewise longer, being equal to 1 ft. 9 1/6 inches.
However (as per the notes in my walking-tour of Yeru-Shala'im), "judging from the excavations made at Ta'anat and Megiddo, the royal Babylonian cubit, introduced by the long Chaldean domination, was the one in use at that time (Benzinger, "Hebr. Archaologie", 190). It is probable that only the small cubit was in use at the time of the Babylonian Captivity. Hence, the sacred writer (2 Chronicles 3:3) gives the dimensions of the Temple by the "first measure", or ancient cubit, and Yechezke-El (Ezekiel 40:5; 43:13) adds to each cubit a handbreadth (the ancient palmus minor, one sixth of the small cubit) in order to obtain the length given in the Book of Kings. The royal Babylonian cubit therefore was the "mesura verissima" used in the construction of the Temple of Shelomoh."
10 cubits = 177.5 inches, or 14.791667 feet; rounds up to 8 feet - which is 4.5085 metres (450.85 cms)
10 large cubits = 207.5 inches, or 17.291667 feet; rounds up to 17.3 feet - which is 5.2705 metres (527.05 cms)
6 cubits = 1 reed
Finger = ¾inch - measured on first finger
Palm = 3 inches - width of hand at base of fingers
Span = 9 inches - outstretched hand from thumb to fifth finger
1 Gerah = 0.5 grams
10 Gerot = 1 Bekah = 5 grams
2 Bekot = 1 Shekel = 10 grams
50 Shekalim = 1 Mina = 500 grams
60 Minot = 1 Talent = 30 kilograms
LIQUID
1 Kav = 1.2 litres
3 Kavim = 1 Kin = 3.6 litres
1 Bat = 22 litres
10 Batim = 1 Chomer = 1 donkey-load (?)
DRY MEASURE
1 Log = 0.3 litres
1 Kav = 1.2 litres
1 Omer = 2.2 litres
1 Se'ah = 7.3 litres
1 Ephah = 22 litres
10 Ephot = 1 Chomer = 220 litres
Copyright © 2015 David Prashker
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The Argaman Press
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