The term "dram" appears in the context of ancient weights and currency in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament. It is a term used to describe a unit of weight or a coin, often associated with the Persian daric. The daric was a gold coin used during the Persian Empire, and its mention in the Bible reflects the historical and cultural interactions between the Israelites and the surrounding empires.

Biblical References:

1. 1 Chronicles 29:7 : "They gave for the service of the house of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron." In this passage, the term "daric" is used, which is often translated as "dram" in older translations. It highlights the contributions made by the Israelites for the construction and service of the temple, indicating the use of Persian currency during the post-exilic period.

2. Ezra 2:69 : "According to their ability, they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priestly garments." This verse describes the offerings made by the exiles returning from Babylon to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The use of "darics" again underscores the influence of Persian monetary systems on the Jewish people during this era.

3. Nehemiah 7:70-72 : "Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments. And some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. The rest of the people gave 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 priestly garments." These verses further illustrate the use of the daric in the context of contributions for the rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem, reflecting the economic conditions and the integration of Persian currency.

Historical and Cultural Context:

The daric, often equated with the "dram," was a gold coin introduced by Darius I of Persia around 515 BC. It became a standard currency throughout the Persian Empire, which extended over a vast region including the land of Israel. The presence of the daric in the biblical text indicates the extent of Persian influence and the economic practices adopted by the Jewish people during and after the Babylonian exile.

The use of the term "dram" in older English translations of the Bible, such as the King James Version, reflects the historical understanding and translation practices of the time. The term has since been clarified in more recent translations, such as the Berean Standard Bible, to reflect the specific coinage of the daric.

Theological Significance:

The mention of the dram or daric in the Bible serves as a reminder of God's providence and the fulfillment of His promises through historical events. The rebuilding of the temple and the city of Jerusalem, funded in part by these contributions, signifies the restoration of the Jewish people and their worship practices. It also highlights the sovereignty of God over nations and economies, using even foreign currencies and empires to accomplish His divine purposes.Dram

[DARIC]

Dram

Ezra 2:69, a gold coin of Persia, worth about five dollars.

The Authorized Version understood the word `adarkonim (1 Chronicles 29:7; Ezra 8:27), and the similar word darkomnim (Ezra 2:69; Nehemiah 7:70), as equivalent to the Greek silver coin the drachma. But the Revised Version rightly regards it as the Greek dareikos, a Persian gold coin (the daric) of the value of about 1 pound, 2s., which was first struck by Darius, the son of Hystaspes, and was current in Western Asia long after the fall of the Persian empire. (see DARIC.) 1. (n.) A weight; in Apothecaries' weight, one eighth part of an ounce, or sixty grains; in Avoirdupois weight, one sixteenth part of an ounce, or 27.34375 grains.

2. (n.) A minute quantity; a mite.

3. (n.) As much spirituous liquor as is usually drunk at once; as, a dram of brandy; hence, a potation or potion; as, a dram of poison.

4. (n.) A Persian daric.

5. (v. i. & t.) To drink drams; to ply with drams.

DRACHMA; DRAM

drak'-ma, (drachme): The word is used in the Septuagint as the rendering of beqa`, "half-shekel," which must refer to the light standard for the shekel, as its weight was about 62 grains. In the New Testament the word occurs only in Luke 15:8, 9, where it is rendered "a piece of silver" (m "drachma"). It was commonly taken as equivalent to the Roman denarius, though not strictly so.

DRAM

See DRACHMA; MONEY.

150. adarkon -- a drachma
... Word Origin of foreign origin Definition a drachma NASB Word Usage darics (2). dram.
Of Persian origin; a daric or Persian coin -- dram. 149, 150. ...
/hebrew/150.htm - 5k

1871. darkemon -- (a unit of value), perhaps a drachma
... Usage drachmas (4). dram. Of Pers. Origin; a "drachma," or coin -- dram.
1870, 1871. darkemon or adarkon. 1872 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1871.htm - 6k

Home as a Nursery.
... We call a very bad place the nursery of thieves and rogues. Dram-shops are the
nurseries of intemperance. Commerce is called the nursery of seamen. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter xiii home as a.htm

The Ride from Pembroke to Swansea
... Having had nothing since breakfast, I was very willing to eat or drink; but she
simply told me that she had nothing in the house but a dram of gin. ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/the ride from pembroke to.htm

Waste. November 18.
... among our forefathers have bequeathed to us"is neglected for light fiction, the
reading of which is the worst form of intemperance"dram-drinking and opium ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/daily thoughts /waste november 18.htm

Gambling, Card-Playing
... The novice at cards and dice, husbands and sons of respectable families, just as
the occasional dram-taker supports the saloon. As one has asked: ...
/.../questionable amusements and worthy substitutes/iii gambling card-playing.htm

How Important and Necessary it Is, to the Interiour Soul, to ...
... Teresa appeared after her death to a certain Soul, and told it, that she had only
been rewarded for her pain; but had not received one dram of reward for so ...
/.../the spiritual guide which disentangles the soul/chap v how important and.htm

Drunkenness.
... society lost his life." "In Paisley, England, in 1848, there were three hundred
and thirty-seven cases of cholera, and every case except one was a dram-drinker ...
/.../judy/questionable amusements and worthy substitutes/ii drunkenness.htm

The Church and the Young Man.
... platform. Here then is one where all can unite, namely, in organizing some
force to overbalance the attractions of the dram shop. ...
/.../vincent/amusement a force in christian training/the church and the young.htm

The Choice of Pursuits.
... Without it we resort to jejune amusement, and from amusement we are hurried on to
dissipation, to the card table and dram shop; and from dissipation we sink to ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter xxi the choice of.htm

Of Love to God
... This may serve for a sharp reproof to such as have not a dram of love to
God in their hearts " and are there such miscreants alive? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/of love to god.htm

The Joy of the Lord, the Strength of his People
... of broken rest; we have known it beneath discouragements and under sorrows and
defamations, and all sorts of ills; and we reckon that one dram of fellowship ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the joy of the lord.htm

Dram
... 3. (n.) As much spirituous liquor as is usually drunk at once; as, a dram of brandy;
hence, a potation or potion; as, a dram of poison. ... DRACHMA; DRAM. ...
/d/dram.htm - 8k

Daric
... In the Revised Version of 1 Chronicles 29:7; Ezra 2:69; 8:27; Nehemiah 7:70-72,
where the Authorized Version has "dram." It is the rendering of the Hebrew ...
/d/daric.htm - 8k

Draining (20 Occurrences)

/d/draining.htm - 13k

Nip (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A sip or small draught; esp., a draught
of intoxicating liquor; a dram. 2. (vt) To catch and enclose ...
/n/nip.htm - 7k

Wet (25 Occurrences)
... 5. (a.) Water or wetness; moisture or humidity in considerable degree. 6. (a.) Rainy
weather; foggy or misty weather. 7. (n.) A dram; a drink. 8. (imp. ...
/w/wet.htm - 15k

Drachma (2 Occurrences)
... modern Greeks, a weight equal to a gram. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
DRACHMA; DRAM. drak'-ma, (drachme): The word is used in ...
/d/drachma.htm - 8k

Drama

/d/drama.htm - 7k

Coins (13 Occurrences)
... only coins mentioned in the Old Testament are the Darics (see DARIC), and these
only in the Revised Version (British and American), the word "dram" being used ...
/c/coins.htm - 13k

Adra
... ADRAMMELECH and ANAMMELECH a-dram'-el-ek and a-nam'-el-ek ('adhrammelekh and
`anammelekh, apparently, according to Assyrian usage, "Adar is prince," "Anu is ...
/a/adra.htm - 9k

Drachm (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A drachma. 2. (n.) Same as Dram.
Multi-Version Concordance Drachm (2 Occurrences). Luke 15:8 Or ...
/d/drachm.htm - 7k

What are the modern equivalents of biblical weights and measures? | GotQuestions.org

Dram: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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