Maneh; Mina
An Ancient Unit of Weight
The maneh, also known as the mina, was a standard unit of weight used throughout the ancient Near East. In the Hebrew system, one maneh equaled 50 shekels, making it a substantial amount — roughly equivalent to about 1.25 pounds (570 grams). The maneh served as both a measure of weight for precious metals and as a monetary unit, since currency in the ancient world was measured by weight rather than minted in standardized coins until the Persian period.
The Maneh in Solomon's Wealth
The maneh appears in descriptions of Solomon's legendary wealth. According to 1 Kings 10:17, Solomon made three hundred shields of beaten gold, using three minas of gold for each shield. These golden shields were displayed in the House of the Forest of Lebanon, a grand hall that served as both armory and reception area. The sheer quantity of gold required — nine hundred minas total for the shields alone — illustrates the extraordinary prosperity of Solomon's reign, which the biblical writers attributed to God's blessing.
Post-Exilic Temple Contributions
When the Jewish exiles returned from Babylon and began rebuilding the temple, the mina served as the unit for recording donations. Ezra 2:69 records that the people gave to the treasury 'sixty-one thousand gold drachmas, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priestly garments.' Similarly, Nehemiah 7:71-72 records contributions in minas of gold and silver for the rebuilding effort. These passages demonstrate the community's sacrificial generosity in restoring worship after the devastation of exile.
Ezekiel's Revised Standard
The prophet Ezekiel, in his vision of the restored temple and community, established a specific standard for the maneh: 'The shekel shall be twenty gerahs; twenty shekels plus twenty-five shekels plus fifteen shekels shall be your mina' (Ezekiel 45:12). This passage apparently adjusts the maneh to 60 shekels rather than the traditional 50, possibly aligning with the Babylonian system encountered during the exile. This revision reflects Ezekiel's concern for just weights and measures in the restored community.
Jesus' Parable of the Minas
In Luke 19:11-27, Jesus told the parable of the minas (translated 'pounds' in many versions). A nobleman gave ten servants one mina each before departing on a journey, instructing them to engage in business until he returned. Upon his return, the servants who had multiplied their minas were rewarded with authority over cities, while the one who hid his mina had it taken away. Unlike the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, where different amounts are given, the parable of the minas emphasizes equal opportunity and differing levels of faithfulness.
Just Weights and Measures
The maneh connects to the broader biblical theme of honest measurement. Proverbs 11:1 declares, 'A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.' The prophets repeatedly condemned merchants who used deceptive weights to cheat the poor (Amos 8:5; Micah 6:11). God's concern for fair weights and measures reflects his character as a God of justice and truth.
Biblical Context
The maneh/mina appears in 1 Kings 10:17 (Solomon's gold shields), Ezra 2:69 and Nehemiah 7:71-72 (post-exilic contributions), Ezekiel 45:12 (standardized weights), and Luke 19:11-27 (Jesus' parable of the minas). The concept connects to broader passages about just weights and measures in Proverbs and the prophets.
Theological Significance
The maneh illustrates the biblical principle that material wealth carries spiritual responsibility. Solomon's golden shields displayed God's blessing, the post-exilic contributions demonstrated sacrificial generosity, and Jesus' parable taught that faithful stewardship of what God entrusts will be rewarded. The emphasis on just weights reflects God's character as perfectly fair and honest.
Historical Background
The mina was used across the ancient Near East, with variations in weight between different systems. The Babylonian mina weighed approximately 500 grams, while the lighter Phoenician (commercial) standard was closer to 370 grams. Archaeological discoveries of stone and metal weights inscribed with their values have helped scholars reconstruct ancient weight systems. The earliest coins, minted in Lydia around 600 BC, eventually standardized monetary values, but weight-based currency persisted in many regions for centuries.