- WEAVING, WEAVERS Weaving was an art practised in very early times
(Exodus 35:35). The Egyptians were specially skilled in it (Isaiah 19:9;
Ezekiel 27:7), and some have regarded them as its inventors.
In the wilderness, the Hebrews practised it (Exodus 26:1, 8; 28:4, 39;
Leviticus 13:47). It is referred to in subsequent times as specially the
women’s work (2 Kings 23:7; Proverbs 31:13, 24). No mention of the
loom is found in Scripture, but we read of the “shuttle” (Job 7:6), “the
pin” of the beam (Judges 16:14), “the web” (13, 14), and “the beam” (1
Samuel 17:7; 2 Samuel 21:19). The rendering, “with pining sickness,” in
Isaiah 38:12 (A.V.) should be, as in the Revised Version, “from the loom,”
or, as in the margin, “from the thrum.” We read also of the “warp” and
“woof” (Leviticus 13:48, 49, 51-53, 58, 59), but the Revised Version
margin has, instead of “warp,” “woven or knitted stuff.”
- WEEK From the beginning, time was divided into weeks, each consisting
of six days of working and one of rest (Genesis 2:2, 3; 7:10; 8:10, 12;
29:28). The references to this division of days becomes afterwards more
frequent (Exodus 34:22; Leviticus 12:5; Numbers 28:26; Deuteronomy
16:16; 2 Chronicles 8:13; Jeremiah 5:24; Daniel 9:24-27; 10:2, 3). It has
been found to exist among almost all nations. - WEEKS, FEAST OF See PENTECOST.
- WEIGHTS Reduced to English troy-weight, the Hebrew weights were:
(1.) The gerah (Leviticus 27:25; Numbers 3:47), a Hebrew word, meaning a
grain or kernel, and hence a small weight. It was the twentieth part of a
shekel, and equal to 12 grains.
(2.) Bekah (Exodus 38:26), meaning “a half” i.e., “half a shekel,” equal to 5
pennyweight.
(3.) Shekel, “a weight,” only in the Old Testament, and frequently in its
original form (Genesis 23:15, 16; Exodus 21:32; 30:13, 15; 38:24-29, etc.).
It was equal to 10 pennyweight.
(4.) Ma’neh, “a part” or “portion” (Ezekiel 45:12), equal to 60 shekels,
i.e., to 2 lbs. 6 oz.
(5.) Talent of silver (2 Kings 5:22), equal to 3,000 shekels, i.e., 125 lbs.
(6.) Talent of gold (Exodus 25:39), double the preceding, i.e., 250 lbs.