Topical Bible: Measure: A Bath, About Eight Gallons and a Half

◄ Measure: A Bath, About Eight Gallons and a Half ►

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In biblical times, the "bath" was a unit of liquid measure used primarily in ancient Israel. It is mentioned in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, particularly in relation to offerings, trade, and temple service. The bath is equivalent to approximately eight gallons and a half, or about 30 to 40 liters, depending on the specific historical and archaeological interpretations.

Biblical References:

The bath is first mentioned in the context of Solomon's temple. In 1 Kings 7:26 , the description of the "Sea," a large basin used by the priests for ceremonial washing, states: "It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold two thousand baths." This indicates the significant capacity of the Sea, emphasizing the grandeur and the practical needs of the temple service.

In Ezekiel 45:14 , the bath is used as a standard measure for oil: "The prescribed portion of oil, measured by the bath, is a tenth of a bath from each cor (which consists of ten baths or one homer, for ten baths are equivalent to a homer)." This passage highlights the bath's role in the economic and religious life of Israel, serving as a standard for offerings and trade.

Cultural and Historical Context:

The use of the bath as a unit of measure reflects the agrarian and trade-based society of ancient Israel. Liquid commodities such as oil and wine were essential for daily life, religious rituals, and commerce. The standardization of measures like the bath facilitated fair trade and proper observance of religious duties.

Archaeological findings, including inscriptions and measuring vessels, have provided insight into the use and size of the bath. These discoveries help to confirm the biblical descriptions and offer a tangible connection to the ancient practices described in Scripture.

Theological Significance:

The precise measurements and detailed descriptions found in the Bible, including those involving the bath, underscore the importance of order and obedience in worship and community life. The use of standardized measures ensured that offerings were made according to God's commands, reflecting a heart of obedience and reverence.

Furthermore, the bath, as part of the broader system of weights and measures, illustrates the biblical principle of justice and fairness in economic transactions. Leviticus 19:35-36 commands, "You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall 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 commandment highlights the moral and ethical dimensions of trade and daily life, rooted in the character of God.

In summary, the bath as a unit of measure in the Bible serves as a reminder of the importance of precision, fairness, and obedience in both worship and daily living. Its use in Scripture provides insight into the cultural, economic, and religious practices of ancient Israel, while also conveying enduring theological truths.

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1 Kings 7:26,38
And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was worked like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.
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2 Chronicles 2:10
And, behold, I will give to your servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.
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2 Chronicles 4:5
And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths.
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Ezra 7:22
To an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
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Isaiah 5:10
Yes, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.
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Ezekiel 45:10,11,14
You shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.
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Luke 16:6
And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said to him, Take your bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
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Greek

943. batos -- a bath, an Israelite liquid measure
... 943 -- a liquid measure, between eight and nine gallons (72 ... Origin of Hebrew origin
bath Definition a bath, an Isr. liquid measure NASB Word Usage measures (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/943.htm - 6k

Library

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... The cost of Solomon's temple has been estimated at eight hundred thousand millions
of money: if this is true, still how infinitely inferior is that vast sum to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm