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In the wilderness, the Hebrews practised it (Exodus 26:1, 8; 28:4, 39; Leviticus 13:47). It is referred to in subsequent times as specially the women’s work (2 Kings 23:7; Proverbs 31:13, 24). No mention of the loom is found in Scripture, but we read of the “shuttle” (Job 7:6), “the pin” of the beam (Judges 16:14), “the web” (13, 14), and “the beam” (1 Samuel 17:7; 2 Samuel 21:19). The rendering, “with pining sickness,” in Isaiah 38:12 (A.V.) should be, as in the Revised Version, “from the loom,” or, as in the margin, “from the thrum.” We read also of the “warp” and “woof” (Leviticus 13:48, 49, 51-53, 58, 59), but the Revised Version margin has, instead of “warp,” “woven or knitted stuff.”
•WEEK From the beginning, time was divided into weeks, each consisting of six days of working and one of rest (Genesis 2:2, 3; 7:10; 8:10, 12; 29:28). The references to this division of days becomes afterwards more frequent (Exodus 34:22; Leviticus 12:5; Numbers 28:26; Deuteronomy 16:16; 2 Chronicles 8:13; Jeremiah 5:24; Daniel 9:24-27; 10:2, 3). It has been found to exist among almost all nations.
•WEIGHTS Reduced to English troy-weight, the Hebrew weights were: (1.) The gerah (Leviticus 27:25; Numbers 3:47), a Hebrew word, meaning a grain or kernel, and hence a small weight. It was the twentieth part of a shekel, and equal to 12 grains.
(2.) Bekah (Exodus 38:26), meaning “a half” i.e., “half a shekel,” equal to 5 pennyweight.
(3.) Shekel, “a weight,” only in the Old Testament, and frequently in its original form (Genesis 23:15, 16; Exodus 21:32; 30:13, 15; 38:24-29, etc.). It was equal to 10 pennyweight.
(4.) Ma’neh, “a part” or “portion” (Ezekiel 45:12), equal to 60 shekels, i.e., to 2 lbs. 6 oz.
(5.) Talent of silver (2 Kings 5:22), equal to 3,000 shekels, i.e., 125 lbs. (6.) Talent of gold (Exodus 25:39), double the preceding, i.e., 250 lbs.