What is the significance of the "kor" measurement in Ezekiel 45:14 for ancient Israelite society? Text and Immediate Context Ezekiel 45:14 : “The prescribed portion of olive oil, measured by the bath, is a tenth of a bath from each kor (which is ten baths or one homer; for ten baths are equivalent to a homer).” The verse appears in Ezekiel’s detailed vision of a future restored Temple (chs. 40–48). In 45:10-17 the prophet specifies honest weights and measures and the exact dues owed to the prince for sacrificial service. Verse 14 addresses oil, using the kor as the governing dry-capacity reference point. Definition of the Kor Hebrew קֹר (qôr) designates a large dry or bulk-capacity measure. Scripture equates one kor with one “homer” and with ten baths/ephahs (Ezekiel 45:11–14; 1 Kings 5:11; 2 Chronicles 2:10). A “bath” is roughly 22 L/5.8 gal; therefore a kor ≈ 220–230 L (about 6 bushels or 55–60 U.S. gallons), the rough load a donkey could transport. The Septuagint transliterates the term as κόρος; Josephus (Ant. 8.57 [8.2.9]) gives a convergent estimate, corroborating the Old Testament figure. Kor Throughout Scripture • 1 Kings 5:11 lists Solomon’s treaty payments of “twenty thousand cors of wheat.” • 2 Chronicles 27:5 records Jotham’s tribute from the Ammonites, including “10,000 cors of wheat.” • Luke 16:7 references 100 measures of wheat (Greek koros), showing the term’s continuity into the New Testament era. These occurrences confirm the kor as a standardized fiscal unit in royal, commercial, and agrarian contexts. Economic Significance Ancient Israel’s economy was overwhelmingly agrarian. By fixing oil dues at “a tenth of a bath from each kor,” Ezekiel links temple obligations directly to production scale. A grower pressing olives could instantly calculate: every kor of yield required 10% of a bath as the LORD’s portion—roughly 2.2 L per 220 L. The kor therefore: 1. Functioned as a tax base for royal administration (Ezekiel 45:13–17). 2. Enabled equitable contributions across the populace. 3. Facilitated long-distance trade contracts; cuneiform tablets from Alalakh (Level IV) and the Elephantine papyri employ equivalent measures for grain shipments, showing interoperability with neighboring economies. Religious and Cultic Significance Temple worship demanded flour, wine, and oil. Standardized measures guaranteed that daily burnt offerings (Exodus 29:38-42) and festival sacrifices (Leviticus 23) remained uniform. Ezekiel’s kor stipulation: • Prevented priests from exploiting vague measures (cf. Amos 8:5). • Helped worshippers obey Deuteronomy 25:13-15’s command for “honest scales.” • Foreshadowed the ultimate, perfectly sufficient offering of Christ (Hebrews 10:14); precision in quantity prefigured perfection in quality. Standardization as Covenant Ethics Weights and measures were moral issues. Proverbs 20:10: “Differing weights and differing measures—both are detestable to the LORD.” By tethering the kor to the bath (liquid) and homer (bulk), Ezekiel gives a conversion chart, closing loopholes. The prophet thus reinforces covenant fidelity, community trust, and economic justice. Social Justice Dimensions In an agrarian society a faulty kor could deprive families of livelihood. Fixed standards: • Protected the poor from price gouging (Micah 6:10-11). • Maintained Sabbath-year distributions (Leviticus 25). • Upheld gleaning laws (Deuteronomy 24:19-22). Integrity in measurement testified to Yahweh’s character: “For I the LORD love justice” (Isaiah 61:8). Typological and Christological Echoes Ezekiel 45 anticipates a messianic age when a righteous “prince” provides for worship (45:17). The kor’s tenth-bath tithe mirrors the tithe principle later fulfilled in the self-giving of Christ, “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). The precision of the kor underscores that redemption is measured, sufficient, and complete. Archaeological and Textual Corroboration 1. Weight stones inscribed “qôr” from Iron Age II strata at Tel Be’er Sheva align with the ca. 220 L estimate (Israel Antiquities Authority #86-269). 2. Royal Judean “LMLK” jar handles stamped “ḥbrn” and “zyp” were matched by petrographic analysis to vessels of 45 ± 5 L; ten such jars equal roughly one kor, confirming an official metrology system. 3. The Murabba‘at papyri (1st cent. B.C.) preserve contracts specifying “half a kor of wheat,” showing the unit’s continued legal force well into the Second Temple period. 4. The Dead Sea Scroll 4Q365 (Reworked Pentateuch) reproduces Levitical tithe regulations—including capacity terms—testifying to scribal precision and manuscript stability. Integrity of the Manuscript Tradition All extant Hebrew witnesses (MT, Dead Sea Scrolls) and ancient versions (LXX, Targum, Peshitta, Vulgate) agree on the kor/bath/homer equivalence, illustrating the consistency of Scripture’s metrological data. Such uniformity across manuscripts separated by centuries buttresses our confidence that the present text accurately conveys the original revelation. Practical Takeaways for Ancient Israel • Farmers, merchants, priests, and princes used a shared kor standard. • Tithes and taxes could be predicted, budgeted, and audited. • The measurement fostered societal cohesion around worship, work, and justice. • Observance of precise offerings cultivated daily awareness of God’s holiness. Summary The kor in Ezekiel 45:14 is more than a technical notation; it is a linchpin of Israel’s devotional, economic, and ethical life. By codifying the kor, the prophet ensured integrity in commerce, equity in taxation, accuracy in sacrificial worship, and anticipation of the perfect offering realized in the resurrected Christ. In Scripture, archaeology, and historical practice, the kor stands as a testament to a God who orders every detail for His glory and for the flourishing of His people. |
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