Moses and Aaron. Ciuil and ecclesiastical rites, vsed by the ancient Hebrewes; obserued, and at large opened, for the clearing of many obscure texts thorowout the whole Scripture. Herein likevvise is shewed what customes the Hebrewes borrowed from heathen people: and that many heathenish customes, originally haue beene vnwarrantable imitations of the Hebrewes. By Thomas Godwyn, B.D.

CHAP. IX.

Their Measures.

MEasures in vse among the Hebrewes, and so among all other Nations, they are of two sorts: some Mensurae appli∣cationis, Measures of application, as a span, a cubit, a yard, and the like. Secondly, Mensurae capaci∣tatis, Measures of capacity, as pints, quarts, pecks, bushels, &c. Measures of application mentioned in Scripture, are these that follow; in which that there might be no deceit, the ground of these measures, was the breadth of so many, or so many barly cornes midle sized laid by one another. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Etsbang, Digitus, A singer, an inch.a It containeth the breadth of six barly cornes ioyned together where they are thick∣est: though in round reckoning, it goeth for an inch, yet in accurat speaking foure fingers make three inches. Of this there is mention Ier. 52. 21.

Palmus, this was twofold; Palmus minor, and Palmus maior. The lesser containeth the breadth of foure fingers (i) three inches: the He∣brews terme it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Tophach, the Greeks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the greater is termed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Zereth, by the Greeks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; in Latine, Spithama, & Dodrans. It con∣taineth the measure that is betweene the

thumbe and the little finger stretcht out, A spanne.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Pagnam, Pes, A foot. It containeth b twelue inches.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Amma, Cubitus, A cubit. We shall finde in Authors, mention of foure kinds of cubits▪ 1. Cubitus communis, this was the measure from the elbow to the fingers end; it contained a foot and halfe, or halfe a yard, it is called the commmoncubit. 2. Cubitus sacer, An holy cubit, this was a full yard, containing two of the com∣mon cubits, as appeareth by comparing 1 King. 7. 15. with 2 Chron. 3. 15. In the first place, the pillars are reckoned each of them eighteene cu∣bits high: in the second place, they are recko∣ned fiue and thirty cubits high, which together with the basis, being one ordinary cubit high, doubleth the number; so that the first text, is to be vnderstood of holy cubits: the second, of common cubits. 3. Cubitus regis, the Kings cubit; this wasc three fingers longer then the common cubit: Whereas the common cubit is termed cubitus viri, the cubit of a man. Deut. 3. 11. Onke∣los doth improperly terme it cubitus regis, the Kings cubit. Lastly, there was cubitus geometri∣cus, A Geometricall cubit, it contained six com∣mon cubits,d and according to these cubits, it is thought that Noahs Arke was built.

Some make the difference between the cubit of the sanctuary, & the common cubit, to be thus: The common cubit, they say containede fifteene inches; the holy cubitf eighteene inches. But that

the holy cubit contained two common cubits hath beene euidently proued, and it is probable, that those who make the difference to be one∣ly three inches, haue mistaken the Kings cubit, for the holy cubi••.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Chebel, Funiculus, A line or ro••e. The iust length thereof is vnknowne, the vse there∣of, was to measure grounds, whence it is some∣times taken for the inheritance it selfe. The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places, Psal. 16. 6. That is, mine inheritance.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Kanch, Arundo, the reede. The vse of this, was to measure buildings; the length thereof was six cubits and an hand-breadth, Ezek. 40. 5. The cubits in this place, are interpre∣ted Kings cubits: it was lesse liable to deceit then the rope, because it could not be shortned, or lengthned, by shrinking or stretching; hence the canon or rule of the holy Scripture is mysti∣cally typed out by this reede, Ezek. 40. And Reu. 21. 15.

To these may bee added other measures, wherewith they measured their wayes, and walkes. The least of these was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Tsagad, Pas∣sus, A place.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, stadium, A furlong. It is often menti∣oned in the New Testament, not at all in the Old.g It contained one hundred twentie fiue pa∣ces, which is the eighth part of our mile. Some thinke it to be called so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from stan∣ding, because Hercules ran so much ground in one breath, before he stood still.

Milliarium, A mile: It containeth with vs a thousand paces, but much more among the He∣brewes. Their word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Barah, translated of∣ten Milliarium, properly signifieth A dinner or meale; and being applied vnto iourneyes, walkes, or wayes; it signified so much ground as vsu∣ally is gone, or conueniently may be trauailed in halfe a day, betweene meale and meale, or bait and bait. The word is read, Gen. 35. 16. When there was (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Cibrath haarets) about halfe a dayes iourney of ground. The Greeke in that place, hath an vncouth word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, doubtlesse it was made from the Hebrew Ci∣brath, and signifieth halfe a dayes iourney.

Their measures of capacity, termed Mensurae capacitatis, were of two sorts. Some for dry things, as corne, seede, &c. Some for liquid things, as▪ Wine, Oyle, &c. In both that there might be a iust proportion obserued, all their measures were defined by a set number of hen egge shels of a midle size.

In my paralelling of them with our mea∣sures, where I speake of Bushels, Halfe-bushels, Pecks, &c. I am to bee vnderstood according to Winchester measure, as wee phrase it, such a bushell containeth eight gallons. Where I speak of Gallons. Pottles, Quarts, &c. I am to bee vn∣derstood according to our Ale measure, there∣by I auoid fractions of number.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Kab, Kabus, A Kab.a This contained twenty foure eggs, it held proportion with our quart. The least measure mentioned in Scrip∣ture,

is the Fourth part of a Kab, 2 King. 6. 25. The famine in Samorta was so great, that a fourth part of a Kab of doues doung was sold for fiue peeces of siluer. The Rabbines haue a Pro∣uerbe. Thatb ten Kabs of speech descended into the world and the women tooke away nine of them.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Omer. It contained one Kab and an halfe, and a fifth part of a Kab. That is, Three pints and an halfe pint, and a fifth part of an halfe pint. It was the tenth part of an Ephah Exod. 16. 36.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Seah, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Satum, the Latine interpreters commonly render it by Modius. It contained c six Kabs, that is, A gallon and halfe. We tran∣slate the word in generall A measure: To mor∣row this time a measure (that is a Satum) of fine flower shall bee sold for a shekel, 2 Kings 7. 1.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ephah, It containedd three Sata, that is, halfe a bushel and a potle.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Lethec, It containede fifteene Modios (i.) Sata. That is, two bushels, six gallons and a potle. Mention of this is made, Hos. 3. 2. It is there rendred in English, halfe an Homer.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Homer. It is so called from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Chamor, Asinus, an Asse; because this measure contained so much graine, or corne, as an asse could well beare. It contained ten Ephahs, Ezek. 45. 11. that is, Fortie fiue gallons, or fiue bushels and fiue gallons.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Cor, Corus. The Cor and the Homer

were of the same quantity, Ezek. 45. 14. It was not onely of liquid things, Luke 16. 7.

These measures of which wee haue spoken hitherto the Hebrews vsed in measuring of drie things: Three other measures there were, which they vsed for liquid or moist things.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Log. It containedf six eggshels. It was of the same quantity as the fourth part of a Kab. Halfe a pint.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Hin. It contained the quantity ofg se∣uenty two eggshels, so that it was of our measure three quarts.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Bath, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Bathus, the Bath. It was of the same capacity with the Ephah, the tenth part of an Homer, Ezek. 45. 14. The Latine inter∣preters commonly render it Cadus.h Hierome writing vpon Ezekiel, renders it Vadus. Decima pars Cori, inquit, in speciebus liquidis vocatur ba∣thus, fine vadus. I sometimes thought there had beene some error in the print, namely Va∣dus put for Cadus: But now I finde the Greekes to vse both 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for this measure, and from the last of these Greeke words, that an∣tient Father reades it Vadus. Sometimes our English renders it in generall A measure, Luke 16. 6. It contained foure gallons and an halfe.

All these measures were proper to the He∣brews, I finde three others mentioned in the N. T. taken from other nations.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sextarius. We English it in generall, A pot, Marke 7. 4.i It was of the same quantity

with the Log, if we vnderstand it of the Roman Sextarius. It was somewhat more, if we vnder∣stand it of the Attick Sextarius. Vndecim Attici sextarij aequabant Romanos duodecim. In probabi∣lity we are to vnderstand the Roman measure, so that it contained six egges, that is, halfe a pint.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Chenix. A measure, Reu. 6. 6. It signi∣fieth properly that measure of corne, which was allowed seruants for their maintenance euery day. Whence was occasioned that speech of Pythagoras; Super Chaenice non seden∣dum. That is, We must not rest vpon the prouision which sufficeth for a day, but we must take care for the morrow. It containedk foure Sextarij; that is, A quart.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Metreta, Ioh. 2. 6. It is translated A strkin. It was a measure in vse among the Athe∣nians, l It was of the same quantity with Cadus, and Cadus (as before was noted) was equall to the Hebrew Bath, so that it contained foure gal∣lons and an halfe.

Notes

• a

  Arias Monta•• Thubal Cain.
• Quatuor digiti constituunt tres pol∣lices Franc. Iumus in Ezek. 40. 5.
• b

  Quatuor palmos scil. minores. Pet. Martyr. 1 Reg. c. 6.
• c

  Herodot. lib. 2. in descript. Babyl.
• d

  Origen. hom. 2. in Genes. It. August. de ciuitat. Dei lib. 15. cap. 27.
• e

  Quinos palmos.
• f

  Sex palm••s.
• Tremelius in hunc locum.
• g

  Isidorus.
• a

  Arias Montan. T••ubal Cain.
• b

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Via. Buxtorf. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• Alsted. praecog. theol. lib. 2. pag. 588.
• c

  Vid. Buxtorf. Lexic. in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ex opere ••. Alphes, tractat. de pasch. cap. 5. fol. 176.
• d

  Arias Montan. Thu••al cain.
• e

  Epiphan. de men∣sur. & ponder••••
• f

  Buxtorf. in loco superius citato.
• g

  Buxtorf. ibid.
• h

  Hieronym. Ezek. 45.
• i

  Alsted. praecog. Theol. p. 561.
• k

  Budaeus de asse lib. 5.
• l

  Budaeus de asse lib. 5.