Verses 21-31

The raw materials38:21-31

Moses also recorded an estimate of the amount of metal used ( Exodus 38:21-31). Coined money did not exist until the eighth century B.C. when the Lydians in Anatolia (modern Turkey) invented it. [Note: The New Bible Dictionary, 1962ed, s.v. "Money," by A. F. Walls.] Consequently the shekel Moses referred to was a measure of weight (not quite half an ounce). [Note: Unger"s Bible Dictionary, 3ed, s.v. "Metrology," by E. McChesney, revised by Merrill F. Unger, pp720-25.] The materials included slightly over a ton of gold ( Exodus 38:24), almost four tons of silver ( Exodus 38:25-28), and about two and a half tons of bronze ( Exodus 38:29-31).