shekel

In Jewish tradition

The "shekel of the sanctuary" was the standard weight used for offerings, valuations and the census payment. Later Jews gave a half-shekel yearly for the Temple, and this is remembered each year before Purim.

Interpretation. The rabbis took the half-shekel to teach that everyone counts equally, rich or poor.

Meaning

An ancient Hebrew weight of silver and also a unit of money. About twenty gerahs made one shekel. tree →

Examples

• and of cassia five hundred, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin. (Torah EXO.30.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• And all thy valuations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary; twenty gerahs shall be the shekel. (Torah LEV.27.25, JPS 1917) tree →
• thou shalt take five shekels apiece by the poll; after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them — the shekel is twenty gerahs. (Torah NUM.3.47, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs; twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, ten, and five shekels, shall be your maneh. (Prophets EZK.45.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. (Prophets 2KI.7.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God; (Writings NEH.10.33, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

A record of the Judaism dictionary, written from the corpus.