sures, either of the Hin, or of the 3000 and 2000 Baths in the brazen sea. So I suifer those computations to balance one another, without preponderating one above another. Yet shall I venture to propose another argument, which has nothing, that I know of, to counterbalance it; and which is directly on the side of the 3000 Baths, and its first series of measures: which argument I have elsewhere insisted on for the same purpose. This is taken from the quantity of the manna which was allotted by God himself to be every man's daily portion in the wilderness; an Omer apiece : this is full as large, on that hypothesis, as every man required:, and much too large on the other hypothesis. Of which see Authent. Records, Part II. p. 880, 881, and Cumberland, p. 87, 88. And thus upon the whole, I am still obliged to prefer the number 3000, and its first series of measures; before the number 2000, and its second series: as I did formerly also. OF THE JEWISH WEIGHTS AND COINS. Now before I can authentically determine the weight and value of the Jewish shekel, and other weights and coins derived therefrom, I must set down such other weights and coins as the shekle hath been esteemed very nearly equal to: which are as follows: Four Drachmæ, Troy weight, equal 240 grains Four Drachmæ, Avoirdupois, equal 219 grains, or half an ounce Four Roman Denarii, or pence = Shekel itself, as weighed by Bernard, about by Cumberland by Villalpandus s. d. 26 284 2.91 28 28 28 27 24 27 30 24 29 25 Duke of Devonshire's Shekel, weighed by Mr. Barker, 243 The mean weight of the Shekel, excepting that of Dr. Bernard's, 254 Mean quantity of 4 Attic and 2 Alexandrian Drachmæ ; of 4 Drachmæ Troy, and as many Avoirdupois; of a Tyrian coin; of 4 Denarii; and of the 26 Hence I state the Jewish Coins and weights as follows: s. d. Stater, Siclus, or Shekel of the Sanctuary, the Standard, Drachma Alexandrina, or Drachmon, or Adarchmon, one half, 13 Gerah, or Obolus, zo 0 111 Maneh or Mna, equal 100 Shekels in weight, 21900 grains Troy. N. B. The Roman coins mentioned in the New Testament, are to be thus valued. N. B. Since our ancient testimonies, and the weights of our present Shekels conspire to assure us, that a Hebrew Shekel was nearly equal to 4 Attic and 2 Alexandrian Drachmæ to 4 Drachmæ Troy, and to as many Avoirdupois; to a Tyrian coin; and to 4 Denarii; I thence deduce its mean quantity to have been 2s. 6d. Allowing somewhat for the wearing of such shekels as are now extant, while they passed as coin and laying aside that unexampled quantity in Dr. Bernard, as some way mistaken: on which single example yet, so far as appears to me, the Shekel is supposed, bothby himself and by Dean Prideaux, to have been no less than 3s. in value. See Prid. Connection, Pref. pages 20, 21. Some of the learned Jews pretend, that their later Shekels were larger than their ancient ones: which later Shekels might be then at least 2s. 10d. But since no much larger shekels have been yet seen, (unless that weighed by Dr. Bernard were of that sort,) I cannot depend upon such a Rabbinical assertion, without farther evidence. And though there should have been any such coined in later times, the estimate of the Shekel under the Old and New Testament, in the days of Josephus, will hardly be affected by it. See the note on Joseph. Antiq. III. 8. As for the Drachma, Shekel, and Talent of Gold among the Jews, I state them no higher than as 19 to 11, (the specific gravity of Gold, to that of Silver) larger than those of silver. Which yet have been hitherto most unhappily and extravagantly esteemed 14, or 15, or even 16 times as high in value as silver: and this without due consideration of the several instances wherein such pieces of gold have been mentioned in the old Testament. As to those golden Darics mentioned by Josephus when he supplies them in Numb. vii. instead of Shekels, which we supply; I follow Bishop Cumberland in their estimation. See his Book, page 115. N. B. It being so evident, and known by all that a Hebrew Talent of silver was just 3000 Shekels; when Josephus's present copies say, that such Talent was equal to 100 Manehs, Mnas, or Minæ, which we should render pounds; of 30 ounces, or 60 shekels apiece; this Talent will still be as large again as it ought to be. Though I cannot easily suppose, that Josephus could himself be guilty of so great a mistake. But whence it has arisen I cannot tell. Nor do I find, that the correctors or corruptors, of Josephus's numbers have been less busy, or less successful in those belonging to his Weights and Measures, than they have been in those relating to his Chronology. A TABLE OF THE JEWISH MONTHS IN JOSEPHUS AND OTHERS: WITH THE NAMES OF THE SYROMACEDONIAN NAMES JOSEPHUS GIVES THEM: AND OF THE JULIAN OR ROMAN MONTHS CORRESPONDING TO THEM. N. B. The years I make use of in this version of Josephus under the bare character of An. are those before the Christian era: as those under the character of A. D. are those since. And if the reader desires to know the Annus Mundi, or the Year of the World corresponding to any such year, according to my notes on Josephus, he must deduct the year given from 4485 (about the latter end of the next year, to which A. M. 1. I suppose Adam to have been created) and the remainder will be the Annus Mundi, or year of the world: but in strictness, the year from that in which Adam was created inclusive. Thus, in order to find the A. M. wherein Moses died, and Joshua entered Canaan; which is there An. 1492. Deduct that number out of 4485, the remainder 2993, is the A. M. in their note 1. But if any desire the A. M. by the shorter Samaritan chronology, which I suppose to be the most exact, deduct 249 years from the former A. M. and the remainder will give the remainder by that chronology. Thus from 2993, just now found, deduct 249, the remainder is 2744, is the A. M. sought. And if any desire theJulian Period corresponding to any year before the Christian era, they are to deduct the last year out of 4714, which is the first year of the Christian era. The remainder will be the current year of the Julian Period. Thus deduct 1492, the year wherein Moses died, and Joshua entered the land of Canaan, from 4714, the remainder is 3222 the year of the Julian Period required. AN ACCOUNT OF THE JUDGES, KINGS, GOVERNORS, &c. OF THE JEWISH NATION. This nation in their beginning was go- | John Ben Rhesa Nahum verned by the following Judges. Judas Hircanus Amos Joseph Mattathias Abner Heli Mahath Jannes Hircanus Mattathias. The Maccabees, who were both Princes Judas Jonathan and Priests. Simon John Hyrcanus. Rehoboam Abijam Asa Jonathan The following were both Kings and Prin ces. Aristobulus 1. Hyrcanus John Alexander Alexander Aristobulus 2. Antipater Aristob. son of Aristob. Aristobulus 3. Hircanus. The Race of Herod. Archelaus the Great Herod the Great Agrippa son of Agrippa. The names of the High-priests, from the departure out of Egypt till the building of the Temple of Solomon. Achitob The Captivity of Babylon continued se Phineas Abjathar venty years. The Governors after the Captivity were Azarias 636 AN ACCOUNT OF THE JEWISH KINGS, GOVERNORS, &c. From the return out of Babylon till the Cambyses Sogdianus Smerdus Ma-Darius the Bastard gus Darius son of Xerxes son of Artaxerxes Mnemon Histaspis Artaxerxes Ochus Darius Artabanus the Arsames Tyrant High-priests from the Maccabees' time, till the final destruction of Jerusalem. Simon Boethus Joseph 3. cus Seleucus Ceraun us } Alexander Zebina Antiochus Gryphus Antiochus Cyzicen us Seleucus Gryphus phanes Antiochus Pius. Seleucus Philo pater Antiochus Epi Antiochus Eupator Demetrius Soter Sovereigns of Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great. Jeroboam 1. Jehoahaz Ptolemy Soter Euergetes Phiscon Philadelphus Euergetes Lathyrus Alexander Philopater Auletes Epiphanes Cleopatra Omri Pekahiah son of Mena- Philometor. |