CHAP. IX.
Their Measures.
Measures in use among the Hebrews, and so among all other Nations, are of two sorts: some Mensuræ applicationis, measures of application, as, a span, a cubit, a yard, and the like. Secondly, Mensuræ capacitatis, measures of capacity, as pints, quarts, pecks, bushels, &c. Measures of application, mentioned in Scripture, are these that follow (in which there might be no deceit; the ground of these measures was the breadth of so many, or so many barley corns middle sized, laid by one another) אצבע Etsbang, Digitus, a finger, an inch.[761] It containeth the breadth of six barley corns joyned together where they are thickest: though in round-reckoning it goeth for an inch, yet in accurate speaking four fingers make three inches.[762] Of this there is mention, Jer. 52. 21.
[761] Arias Mont. Thubal Cain.
[762] Quatuor digiti constituunt tres pollices. Fran. Iunius in Ezek. 40. 5.
Palmus, This was two fold; Palmus minor, and Palmus major. The lesser containeth the breadth of four fingers, (i.) three inches, the Hebrews term it, טפח Tophach, the Greeks παλαιστίδα: the greater is termed זרת Zereth, by the Greeks σπιθαμὴ; in Latine Spithama, & Dodrans. It containeth the measure that is between the thumb and the little finger stretcht out, a span.
פעם, Pagnam, Pes, a foot. It containeth twelve inches.[763]
[763] Quatuor Palmos; scil. minores. Pet. Martyr. 1. Reg. c. 6.
אמה Amma, Cubitus, a Cubit. We shall find in Authors mention of four kinds of Cubits. 1. Cubitus communi, this was the measure from the elbow to the fingers end. It contained a foot and half, or half a a yard, it is called the common Cubit. 2. Cubitus sacer, An holy Cubit, this was a full yard, containing two of the common Cubits, as appeareth by comparing 1 Kin. 7. 15. with 2 Chron. 3. 15. In the first place, the pillars are reckoned each of them eighteen cubits high: in the second place they are reckoned five and thirty cubits high; which, together with the basis, being one ordinary cubit high, doubleth the number: so that the first Text is to be understood of holy cubites; the second of common cubits. 3. Cubitus regis, the Kings cubit; this was three fingers longer than the common cubit:[764] Whereas the common cubit is termed cubitus viri, the cubit of a man, Deut. 3. 11. Onkelos doth improperly term it, cubitum regis, the Kings cubit. Lastly, there was cubitus geometricus, A geometrical cubit, it contained six common cubits,[765] and according to these cubits, it is thought that Noah’s Ark was built.
[764] Herodot. lib. 2. in descrip. Bab.
[765] Orig. hom. 2. in Genes. It. Aug. de Civitat. Dei, lib. 15. cap. 27.