Topical Bible: Shekel: Fractions of, Used in Currency

◄ Shekel: Fractions of, Used in Currency ►

Topical Encyclopedia

The shekel, a standard unit of weight and currency in ancient Israel, played a significant role in the economic and religious life of the Hebrew people. The term "shekel" is derived from the Hebrew root "sh-q-l," meaning "to weigh," indicating its primary function as a measure of weight. In the biblical context, the shekel was used both as a unit of weight for commodities and as a currency for trade and religious offerings.

Fractions of the Shekel

The shekel was divided into smaller units to facilitate various transactions. The most common fractions mentioned in the Bible are the "beka" and the "gerah."

1. Beka: The beka is mentioned in Exodus 38:26, where it is described as half a shekel. The passage states, "a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years old or more who had crossed over to the registered group, 603,550 men." The beka was used as a standard contribution for the maintenance of the tabernacle, illustrating its role in religious obligations.

2. Gerah: The gerah is the smallest unit of weight mentioned in the Bible, equating to one-twentieth of a shekel. In Exodus 30:13, the gerah is referenced in the context of the census tax: "Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs." This indicates that the shekel was divided into twenty gerahs, providing a precise measure for smaller transactions.

Shekel in Currency

The shekel served as a primary currency in ancient Israel, facilitating trade and commerce. It was used in various transactions, including the purchase of land, payment of fines, and offerings to the temple. The shekel's role as currency is evident in several biblical narratives:

· Abraham's Purchase of the Cave of Machpelah: In Genesis 23:16, Abraham weighs out four hundred shekels of silver to Ephron the Hittite for the purchase of the cave of Machpelah as a burial site for his wife, Sarah. The passage states, "Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current commercial standard."

· Joseph's Sale by His Brothers: In Genesis 37:28, Joseph's brothers sell him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. This transaction highlights the use of the shekel as a medium of exchange in trade and commerce.

· Temple Tax: The shekel was also used for the temple tax, as seen in Matthew 17:24-27, where Jesus instructs Peter to find a coin in the mouth of a fish to pay the temple tax for both of them. The tax was traditionally half a shekel, underscoring the shekel's role in religious duties.

The shekel's use as both a weight and a currency underscores its importance in the daily life and religious practices of ancient Israel. Its divisions into smaller units like the beka and gerah facilitated a wide range of transactions, from personal trade to communal religious obligations.

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Exodus 30:13
This they shall give, every one that passes among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.
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1 Samuel 9:8
And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
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Nehemiah 10:32
Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;
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