Balance

The word is used for three Hebrew words: (1) "mo'znaim" (Jer. xxxii. 10; Job vi. 2; Ps. lxii. 9; Isa. xl. 12, 15; Lev. xix. 36; Job xxxi. 6; Prov. xi. 11, etc.). (2) "ḳaneh" (Isa. xlvi. 6), and (3) "peles" (Prov. xvi. 11). The Balance, as used among the Hebrews, consisted probably of a horizontal bar either pivoted on a perpendicular rod (for a similar Egyptian Balance see Erman, "Ægypten," i. 615) or suspended from a cord and held in the hand. At the end of the horizontal bar were either pans or hooks from which the things to be weighed were suspended in bags. Abraham is represented as weighing money (Gen. xxiii. 16); and although the Balance in early days was rather rudely constructed, the weighing could be done accurately. The system was, however, very liable to fraud; and the necessity of righteous weights is enforced again and again (Lev. xix. 36; Prov. xvi. 11, xx. 23; Amos viii. 5; Micah vi. 11). See also Weights and Measures.

Egyptian Weighing Money.(From Lepsius, "Denkmäler.")G. G. B. L.