The term "siglos" refers to a type of silver coin that was used in the ancient Near East, particularly within the Persian Empire. While the Bible does not explicitly mention the siglos by name, understanding its historical and economic context can provide insight into the biblical world, especially during the periods of Persian influence over the Israelites.

Historical Context

The siglos was a silver coin introduced by the Achaemenid Empire, which ruled over a vast territory including the land of Israel from approximately 539 to 331 BC. The coinage system established by the Persians was part of their administrative and economic reforms, which facilitated trade and taxation across their empire. The siglos typically weighed around 5.6 grams and was often stamped with images representing Persian authority, such as the image of the Persian king or a warrior.

Biblical Context

During the Persian period, the Jewish people were under the rule of the Achaemenid Empire, following their return from the Babylonian exile. This era is documented in several books of the Bible, including Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. The use of Persian coinage, such as the siglos, would have been common in the economic transactions of the time.

In the book of Nehemiah, we see references to the economic conditions and the rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem. While the specific term "siglos" is not used, the economic backdrop of the Persian period is evident. For example, Nehemiah 5:4-5 describes the financial burdens faced by the people: "Still others were saying, 'We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery.'"

Significance in Biblical Studies

Understanding the siglos and its role in the Persian economy helps illuminate the socio-economic conditions of the Jewish people during the post-exilic period. The use of Persian coinage would have been a daily reality for the inhabitants of Judah, influencing their trade, taxation, and interactions with the broader empire.

The presence of Persian coinage also underscores the historical accuracy of the biblical narrative, as it aligns with archaeological findings and historical records of the Persian Empire's influence over the region. This context enriches the study of biblical texts from this period, providing a clearer picture of the challenges and realities faced by the Jewish community as they sought to rebuild their society and maintain their faith under foreign rule.SIGLOS

sig'-los (siglos): A Persian silver coin, twenty of which went to the gold DARIC (which see).

Siglos
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia SIGLOS. sig'-los (siglos): A Persian silver
coin, twenty of which went to the gold DARIC (which see). ...
/s/siglos.htm - 6k

Sights (4 Occurrences)

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Money (284 Occurrences)
... This was the siglos, supposed to be referred to in Nehemiah 5:15, where it is
translated "shekel." These were the so-called silver darics, 20 of which were ...
/m/money.htm - 69k

Sign (181 Occurrences)

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