Ephah

The ephah is an ancient Hebrew unit of dry measure used in the Old Testament, primarily for grains and other dry commodities. It is roughly equivalent to 22 liters or about 5.8 gallons. The ephah is mentioned frequently in the context of offerings and trade, serving as a standard measure for transactions and religious observances.

In the Mosaic Law, the ephah is used to ensure fairness and honesty in trade. Leviticus 19:36 states, "You must maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt." This command underscores the importance of integrity and justice in economic dealings, reflecting God's character and His desire for His people to live righteously.

The ephah also appears in the context of offerings. In the sacrificial system, specific amounts of flour, often measured in ephahs, were required for various offerings. For example, in Numbers 28:5 , it is written, "With the burnt offering, prepare a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter hin of oil from pressed olives." This precise measurement ensured that the offerings were made according to God's instructions, symbolizing obedience and devotion.

The prophet Ezekiel also references the ephah in his vision of the restored temple, emphasizing the importance of accurate measurements in worship (Ezekiel 45:10-11): "You must use honest scales, an honest ephah, and an honest bath. The ephah and the bath shall be the same volume, with the bath containing a tenth of a homer, and the ephah a tenth of a homer; their measurement shall be based on the homer."

Hin

The hin is another ancient Hebrew unit of liquid measure, used primarily for oil and wine. It is approximately equivalent to 3.7 liters or about 1 gallon. Like the ephah, the hin is mentioned in the context of offerings and religious rituals, serving as a standard measure for liquid substances.

In the instructions for the tabernacle and its services, the hin is used to specify the quantities of oil and wine required for offerings. For instance, in Exodus 30:24-25 , God commands Moses regarding the anointing oil: "500 shekels of cassia—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin of olive oil. Prepare from these a holy anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer; it will be a holy anointing oil."

The hin is also mentioned in the context of drink offerings, which accompanied various sacrifices. Numbers 15:5 states, "With the burnt offering or sacrifice of each lamb, prepare a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering." This precise measurement ensured that the offerings were made in accordance with divine instructions, reflecting the worshiper's reverence and submission to God's will.

The use of the hin in the sacrificial system highlights the importance of precision and order in worship, as well as the significance of offerings in maintaining a right relationship with God. The hin, like the ephah, served as a tangible reminder of God's holiness and the need for His people to approach Him with sincerity and obedience.