- is worth:
- Though the words "is worth" are not in the Text, yet they are clearly implied, to adapt the Hebrew to the English idiom. A shekel, according to the general opinion, was equal in value to about 2s. 6d. of our money, but according to Dr. Prideaux, 3s. English. In those early times, money was given in weight; for it is said ("And Abrahamª hearkenedª° unto¹ Ephron;ª and Abrahamª weighedª° to Ephronª¹ the silver,ª which¹ he had namedª° in the audienceª of the sonsª of Heth,ª fourª hundredª shekelsª of silver,ª currentª° [money] with the merchant.ª°" {Gen 23:16}) that "Abraham weighed," wayishkal, the silver; and hence, we find that it was a certain weight which afterwards passed as a current coin; for the word shekel is not only used to denote a piece of silver, but also to weigh.
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