Assuming that the vessel was circular, the proportions of the diameter and circumference are not sufficiently exact for mathematical purposes; nor are we able to decide whether the diameter was measured from the internal or the external edge of the vessel. The shape of the vessel has been variously conceived to be circular and polygonal, cylindrical and hemispherical, with perpendicular and with bulging sides. The contents are given as 2000 baths in 1 K. vii. 26, and 3000 baths in 2 Chr. iv. 5, the latter being a corrupt text. Lastly, the length of the cubit is undefined, and hence every estimate is attended with suspicion. The conclusions drawn have been widely different, as might be expected. If it be assumed that the form of the vessel was cylindrical (as the description primâ facie seems to imply), that its clear diameter was 10 cubits of the value of 19.051 English inches each, and that its full contents were 2000 baths, then the value of the bath would be 4-8965 gallons; for the contents of the vessel would equal 2,715,638 cubic inches, or 9793 gallons. If, however, the statement of Josephus (Ant. viii. 3, § 5), as to the hemispherical form of the vessel, be adopted, then the estimate would be reduced. Saigey, as quoted by Boeckh (p. 261), on this hypothesis calculates the value of the bath at 18 086 French litres, or 3·9807 English gallons. All the other computations agree in one point, viz., that the bath fell far below the value set on it by Josephus, and by modern writers in Hebrew archæology generally, according to whom the bath measured between 8 and 9 English gallons. Josephus identifies the bath with the metrêtês, the chief Attic liquid measure (8 galls. 5'12 pints). The cor (or homer) is made by him equal to 10 Attic medimni (the medimnus being nearly a bushel and a half), and by Jerome to 30 Roman modii (the modius being nearly a quarter of a bushel). But the statements of these writers, and of Epiphanius (de Mensuris) are full of such glaring errors and inconsistencies, as to raise the question whether the identification of the bath with the metrêtês did not arise out of the circumstance that the two measures held the same relative position in the scales, each being subdivided into 72 parts; and again, whether the assignment of 30 modii to the cor did not arise out of there being 10 seahs in it. Assuming, however, that Josephus was right in identifying the bath with the metrêtês, its value would be, according to Boeckh's estimate of the latter, 1993-95 Paris cubic inches, or 8.7053 English gallons; but according to the estimate of Bertheau (Gesch. p. 73), 1985-77 Paris cubic inches, or 8.6696 English gallons. The Rabbinists furnish data of a different kind for calculating the value of the Hebrew measures. They estimated the log to be equal to six hen eggs, the cubic contents of which were ascertained by measuring the amount of water they displaced (Maimonides, in Cel. 17, § 10). On this basis Thenius estimated the log at 14.088 Paris cubic inches, or 06147 English gallons, and the bath at 1014 39 Paris cubic inches, or 4.4286 gallons (St. u. Kr. pp. 101, 121). Again, the log of water is said to have weighed 108 Egyptian drachme, each equaling 61 barleycorns1 (Maimonides, in Peah, 3, § 6, ed. Guisius). Thenius finds that 6588 barleycorns fill about the same space as 6 hen eggs (St. u. Kr. p. 112). And again, a log is said to fill a vessel 4 digits long, 4 17 In the table the weight of the log is given as 104 drachms; but in this case the contents of the log are supposed to be wine. The relative weights of water and wine were as 27 to 26. broad, and 27 high (Maimonides, in Præf. Menachota). This vessel would contain 21.6 cubic inches, or 07754 gallon. The conclusion arrived at from these data would agree tolerably well with the first estimate formed on the notices of the molten sea. As we are unable to decide between Josephus and the Rabbinists, we give a double estimate of the various denominations, adopting Bertheau's estimate of the metrêtês: 66 In the New Testament we have notices of the following foreign measures :-(a) The metrêtês (John ii. 6; A. V. "firkin ") for liquids. (b) The choenix (Rev. vi. 6; A. V. measure"), for dry goods. (c) The xestês, applied, however, not to the particular measure so named by the Greeks, but to any small vessel, such as a cup (Mark vii. 4, 8; A. V. "pot "). (d) The modius, similarly applied to describe any vessel of moderate dimensions (Matt. v. 15; Mark iv. 21; Luke xi. 33; A. V. “bushel"); though properly meaning a Roman measure, amounting to about a peck. The value of the Attic metrêlês has been already stated to be 8.6696 gallons, and consequently the amount of liquid in six stone jars, containing on the average 24 metrêtœ each, would exceed 110 gallons (John ii. 6). Very possibly, however, the Greek term represents the Hebrew bath, and, if the bath be taken at the lowest estimate assigned to it, the amount would be reduced to about 60 gallons. Even this amount far exceeds the requirements for the purposes of legal purification, the tendency of Pharisaical refinement being to reduce the amount of water to a minimum, so that a quarter of a log would suffice for a person. The question is one simply of archæological interest, as illustrating the customs of the Jews, and does not affect the character of the miracle with which it is connected. The chanix was 1-48th of an attic medimnus, and contained nearly a quart. It represented the amount of corn for a day's food; and hence a chanix for a penny (or denarius), which usually purchased a bushel (Cic. Verr. iii. 81), indicated a great scarcity (Rev. vi. 6). "Denarius of Tiberius The Tribute Penny." Obv. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS. Head of Tiberius, laureate, to the right (Matt. xxii. 19, 20, 21). Rev. PONTIF MAXIM. Seated female figure to the right. "Whose is this image and superscription! They say unto him, ('æar's."-Matt. xxii. 21 INDEX. AARON. AARON, 137. A. Appointed one Abel, his name, 31. His sacri- Abel beth- maacah, its posi- Abel-shittim, its position, 205 the high-priest, 389. wife of Nabal, 410, 411. Abihu, sees God, 171. Death son of Jeroboam, his Abishag the Shunammite, 468. Adoram, 443. Abishai, nephew of David, Adrammelech, son of Sen nacherib, 579. Agag, taken prisoner by Saul, victory over the Edomites, Adullam, cave of, 288. Endeavors to conquer Judah, 429. His -, son of Kolaiah, 598. Ahab, his league with Je- His title of the friend of Ahijah the Shilonite, 497, 514. Dwells at Beer-sheba, 85. Ahimaaz, 459, 460. Isaac, 86, 87. His return Ahinoam, wife of Saul, 390. Achon, unfaithfulness of, Ai, attacked by the Israelites, Achor (see Achon, 254). son of preceding, 95, 96. Adar, 269. son of Gideon, 350. Suc- Adino (see Jashobeam). His ceeds in establishing a king- Admah, 73. Destruction of, 84. dom at Shechem, 351. His Adonai, 24. Alush, 165. Amalekites, their origin, 166 oned as the sixth judge, 353. Adoni-zedec, king of Jerusa-Amariah the high-priest, 529, son of Jesse, 395, 338. Abiram, rebellion of, 191. lem, makes a league against Amasa, captain of the host, 453. His conspiracy, 466. Amasai, David's nephew, 402 Assyria, early importance of, Ammon, origin of race of, 84. Amorites, the, 80. Atonement, the Day of, 267. Book of, 676. Amosis, 135. Amram, 137. House of, cho- sen to perform functions of Arabalı, the, 193, 194, 198. Aram, children of, 60. Araunah, the threshing-floor the high-priest, 610. B. Baal, service of, established in and Ashtoreth, 341. 424. Baalberith, 351. Baalites, slain by Jehu, 541. CANON. army, 442. Member of coun- Benjamin, birth of, 102. Re. Benjamites, extermination of Taken Ben-oni (see Benjamin). Bible, origin of the name, 653. Baasha, his conspiracy, 514. Bildad, friend of Job, 132. Birs-Nimrûd, 64. Bochim, 321. Babylon (see Babel). Taken by Books, the historical, 659–667. 62. Bread, unleavened, 262. Bush, burning of the, 141. Ark, Noah commanded to pre- Armageddon, battle of, 5-8. Day of Atonement, 267. Debir, city of, destroyed, 306 ofJudah. First Captivity, Damascus, 79. Made tributa- Deborah, Rachel's nurse, 102. 593, 594. Second Captivity, Census taken by Aaron, 178- Chagigal, the, 263, 264. Chaos, 18. Charran (see Haran). Cherethites, the, 377. "Cherethites and Pelethites," Cherubim in the Tabernacle, Chiliab, son of David, 433. Chinneroth, sea of, 306. Christ as the angel Jehovah,| Chronicles, Books of, 662. Chushan-rishathaim, 328. Cities of refuge, 312, 313. Commandments, Ten, 169, 221. Coriah (see Jehoiachin). with Noah and his race, Creation, the, 16-22. Cosmos, 17. Croesus, 616. Cubit, the, 697. Cush, 60. 616. ry to David, 440. Daniel, 593. His relations with Book of, 674. -,the prophetess, 331. Reck and Barak, song of, 333 334. , the feast of, 269. Deuteronomy, Book of, 210 the Median, 619, 620, 621. Devil, the, 27. guard, 391. Anointed by "Dispersion," the, C29. scription of, 337. Introduced Dophkah, 165. to the court of Saul, 398. Dor, 293. Plays before Saul, 399. Slays Drink-offering, the, 247. 402. Saul's jealousy of him, E. 403. Marries a daughter of Earth, formation of the, 19, 20. 404, 405. Flies to Nob, 46. Ebed-melech, the eunuch, 602 Takes refuge in the cave of Eber, 63. Adullam, 407. Leaves his Ecclesiastes, Book of, 498, 502. Again pursued Philistines, 409. Pursued by Edessa, formerly Ur, 69. His His victory over the Amalek- Eglah, wife of David, 433. Cyaxares, king of Media, 595, David, city of, 432. Psalms of, 421, 436, 470. Babylon, 619. Decrees the 627. First, 19. Second, 19. 72. Commencement of so- ites, 162. Their destructicr Elah, succeeds his father Be Third, 20. Fourth, 20. Fifth, Elath, 200, 494. 20. Sixth, 20. Seventh, 21. El-Buttauf, plain of, 290 |