An interchangeable decimal system of dry and liquid measures is given, symbolic of just and righteous dealing. An ephah (dry measure) equals a bath (liquid measure), and ten of either is a homer or cor. The homer is about 75 gallons and the ephah and the bath, one tenth of a homer, or 7½ gallons each. (Ezek. 45:10-11). The table of weights is (Ezek. 45:12, etc.):
Grains | Avoirdupois | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Talent | 960,000 | 137 1/7 lb. | 1 | ||||
Maneh | 16,000 | 2 1/4 lb. | 60 | 1 | |||
Shekel | 320 | 3/4 oz. | 3,000 | 50 | 1 | ||
Beka | 160 | 2/5 oz. | 6,000 | 100 | 2 | 1 | |
Gerah | 16 | 1/27 oz. | 60,000 | 1000 | 20 | 10 | 1 |
The measures of volume are to be used chiefly in connection with the sacrifices – so many ephahs of wheat or baths of oil as a meat or drink offering with a bullock, etc.
Numbers are used as symbols of completeness or perfection, or their opposites. The common conception of the symbolisms of numbers is:
One | Unity, self-sufficiency. |
Two | Duality, couples. |
Three | That in itself complete, invisible, infinite. |
Four | That in which God reveals Himself completely, as the four cherubim, the four-sided altar, and the cubic shaped Most Holy. |
Five | Used in connection with ten, completeness in the stage, degree, or power attained or ordained; or a relative imperfection. |
Six | Secular completeness, or completeness according to the measure designed in the Word of God. |
Seven | The sum of three and four; religious or Divine completeness or perfection; the covenant number. The half of seven (3½), the broken number, appears in connection with suffering. |
Ten | The natural symbol of perfection, completeness, complete development, a complete and perfect whole. |
Twelve | Three times four; the number of the covenant people; completeness of organization; national completeness. |
FM572