שֶׁקֶל

n.m. Lv 27:6 a weight, shekel (orig. = weight; late Heb. = coin GACooke Inscr.356);—abs. שׁ׳ Am 8:5 +, שָׁ֑קֶל Ex 38:29 +; pl. שְׁקָלִים Jos 7:21 +; cstr. שִׁקְלֵי 1 Ch 21:25;—shekel, as standard weight Am 8:5; of weight of bronze armour 1 S 17:5, iron spear-head v 7, + 2 S 21:16b (v. מִשְׁקָל), hair 2 S 14:26, food Ez 4:10; implying value, of wedge of gold Jos 7:21 (JE); of nails in temple (gold) 2 Ch 3:9; usually a definite weight of silver (used in payment or valuation) Ex 21:32 (E), Jos 7:21 (JE), 1 S 9:8; 2 S 24:24; 2 K 7:1(×2), 16(×2), 18(×2); 15:20; Je 32:9; Ez 45:12(×2) (v. infra), and (= coin, from time of Darius I) Ne 5:15; 10:33; Lv 5:15; 27:3, 4, 5(×2) (all P), + 53 times P; also מַחֲצִית הַשּׁ׳ Ex 30:13(×2), 15; 38:26 (= בֶּקַע), all half-shekel, atonement-money; cf. שְׁלִישִׁית הַשּׁ׳ Ne 10:33 one-third; also רֶבַע שׁ׳ 1 S 9:8 one-fourth of shekel; שׁ׳ = 20 גֵּרָה (ג׳ otherwise unknown) Ez 45:12; Ex 30:13; Lv 27:25; Nu 3:47; 50 שׁ׳ = one maneh Ez 45:12 (read וַחֲמִשִּׁים for וחמשׁה [and עֶשְׂרֵה for עֲשָׂרָה preceding], 𝔊A Boeckh Hi-Sm Co Toy Da Krae Berthol); שׁ׳ הַקֹּדֶשׁ Ex 30:13, 24; Lv 5:15; Nu 3:47, 50; 7:13 + 21 times P; land estimated in שׁ׳ of gold 1 Ch 21:25; שׂ׳ also often om. after num.—שׁ׳ was of two standards, one one-half the other; actual weights (and values) varied, but most persistent were: (1) gold, 252 2/3 gr. Troy (or 126 1/3), mod. equiv. c. £2 1 s., or $10; (2) silver, 224 1/2 gr. (nearly 1/2 oz.) = שׁ׳ הַקֹּדֶשׁ (v. supra), or 112 1/4, mod. equiv. c. 2 s. 9d., or 67 c.; שׁ׳ בְּאֶבֶן הַמֶּלֶךְ 2 S 14:26 is dub.; if late (Bu HPS Löhr Now) it prob. ref. to a Bab. or Pers. scale (cf. S-CPap באבני מלבא often); 60 (or 50) שׁ׳ = 1 mina, 60 minas = 1 talent (v. מָנֶה, כִּכָּר). Vid. especially ARSKennedyHast. DB weights and measures, and money.