▼OI*. XVI.J PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. ^^^ 



as appears by Mr. Greaves. Lastly, he shows, after the same, that the side of 

 the great pyramid, and the length of the tomb within it, are measured by ad 

 even number of such Egyptian cubits ; whence he concludes they were so de- 

 signed at first, viz. the side of the pyramid to be 380 cubits, and the length of 

 the tomb just 4 ; which carries with it a great show of probability. This done 

 he proves the Jewish cubit the same with the Egyptian cubit, by several pro- 

 bable arguments ; among which the chief seems to be, that the whole nation 

 of the Jews had been for so many years subjects of Egypt, and carried un- 

 doubtedly away with them their weights and measures : and there is no testi- 

 mony or reason to prove that the Jews have since altered them. Hence he con- 

 cludes the old scripture cubit 2 ItV inches English nearly, equal to what Mr. 

 Greaves found the modern Egyptian cubit ; and from hence makes a table of all 

 the other measures whose proportions to the cubit are agreed upon. 



The third chapter treats of the epha, and the other measures of capacity, 

 endeavouring to prove the content of that measure equal to ^ of the ardub, 

 or cube of the Egyptian cubit ; that is 7 gallons and a half and half a pint 

 nearly, or very near the cube of the English foot, and containing just 1000 

 ounces avoirdupois of water ; and hence he gives a table of the contents of all 

 the other scripture-measures of capacity, having a known relation to the epha. 

 ■^^he fourth chapter treats of the weights and coins mentioned in scripture ; 

 and having by trial, as well as authority, found the weight of the shekel just 

 half the Roman ounce, equal to the half ounce avoirdupois, he determines its 

 value 2s. 4^. and thence derives the value of the gold and silver talent, 

 weighing 3000 shekels. Lastly, he recommends for a universal standard, the 

 length of the pendulum vibrating seconds, to be the horary yard, which he 

 says is 3 feet 3-i- inches English, following in this Mr. Huygens, the first 

 proposer of it. By the way he takes notice of the harmony that is between 

 the measures and weights thus stated ; for having the Egyptian cubit given, the - 

 sixth part of its cube is the epha, the tenth of it the homer, the tenth of that 

 ciotyla, the tenth of which is an ounce avoirdupois in water, whose half is 

 exactly the weight of the shekel. The whole book being made up of very rare 

 remarks, is well worth the perusal of the curious reader. 



Note, That the learned Dr. Edward Bernard, in his late account of weights 

 and measures, agrees nearly in' the capacity of the epha, with what Dr. Cumber- 

 land has determined; for he makes the cube of the English foot to contain 761b. 

 Troy of spring- wat«r, and the epha, or rather bath, to contain 75 such pounds ; 

 so that it is a pound less than the cube of a foot English, which Dr. Cumberland 

 has stated about 12 ounces of water more than the said cube. 



