Definition and Meaning:
The term "Kab" refers to an ancient Hebrew unit of measurement for dry volume. It is one of the smaller units used in the biblical context, primarily for measuring grains and other dry commodities. The Kab is part of a system of measurements that includes other units such as the ephah, seah, and omer.

Biblical References:
The Kab is mentioned in the context of the severe famine in Samaria during the reign of King Jehoram, as recorded in 2 Kings 6:25. The passage describes the dire conditions in the city, where a "kab of dove's dung" was sold for five shekels of silver, highlighting the extreme scarcity and desperation of the time. The Berean Standard Bible translates this passage as follows:

"So there was a great famine in Samaria, and they besieged it until a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver." (2 Kings 6:25)

Historical and Cultural Context:
The Kab is part of the ancient Hebrew system of weights and measures, which was integral to daily life in biblical times. This system was used for trade, agriculture, and religious offerings. The exact size of a Kab is not definitively known, but it is generally estimated to be about 1.2 liters or approximately 1.3 quarts. This small measure underscores the severity of the famine described in 2 Kings, as even a modest amount of a low-value item like dove's dung commanded a high price.

Theological Significance:
The mention of the Kab in the context of famine serves as a poignant illustration of the consequences of disobedience and the resulting judgment from God. The siege of Samaria and the resulting famine were seen as a fulfillment of the curses outlined in the Mosaic Covenant for the nation's unfaithfulness. The extreme conditions described, including the sale of a Kab of dove's dung, emphasize the depth of the crisis and the need for repentance and reliance on God's provision.

Related Terms and Measurements:
· Ephah: A larger unit of dry measure, approximately equivalent to 22 liters or about 5.8 gallons.
· Seah: A unit of dry measure, roughly one-third of an ephah, or about 7.3 liters.
· Omer: A smaller unit of dry measure, approximately one-tenth of an ephah, or about 2.2 liters.

Conclusion:
The Kab, though a minor detail in the biblical narrative, provides insight into the historical and cultural context of ancient Israel. It serves as a reminder of the tangible realities faced by the people during times of crisis and the broader spiritual lessons conveyed through these events.KAB

kab (qabh, "something hollowed out," 2 Kings 6:25; the King James Version Cab): A Hebrew dry measure and liquid measure equal to about 2 quarts.

See WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

6894. qab -- kab (a measure of capacity)
... 6893, 6894. qab. 6895 . kab (a measure of capacity). Transliteration: qab
Phonetic Spelling: (kab) Short Definition: kab. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6894.htm - 6k

6909. Qabtseel -- "God gathers," a city in S. Judah
... 6908, 6909. Qabtseel. 6910 . "God gathers," a city in S. Judah. Transliteration:
Qabtseel Phonetic Spelling: (kab-tseh-ale') Short Definition: Kabzeel. ...
/hebrew/6909.htm - 6k

6117. aqab -- to follow at the heel, assail insidiously ...
... aqab. 6118 . to follow at the heel, assail insidiously, circumvent, overreach.
Transliteration: aqab Phonetic Spelling: (aw-kab') Short Definition: craftily. ...
/hebrew/6117.htm - 6k

7392. rakab -- to mount and ride, ride
... 7391, 7392. rakab. 7393 . to mount and ride, ride. Transliteration: rakab Phonetic
Spelling: (raw-kab') Short Definition: ride. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7392.htm - 6k

7901. shakab -- to lie down
... 7900, 7901. shakab. 7902 . to lie down. Transliteration: shakab Phonetic Spelling:
(shaw-kab') Short Definition: slept. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7901.htm - 6k

3524. kabbir -- great, mighty, much
... 3523, 3524. kabbir. 3525 . great, mighty, much. Transliteration: kabbir
Phonetic Spelling: (kab-beer') Short Definition: mighty. ...
/hebrew/3524.htm - 6k

5344. naqab -- to pierce
... 5343, 5344. naqab. 5344a . to pierce. Transliteration: naqab Phonetic Spelling:
(naw-kab') Short Definition: appoint. appoint, blaspheme ...
/hebrew/5344.htm - 5k

3522. Kabbon -- a place in Judah
... 3521, 3522. Kabbon. 3523 . a place in Judah. Transliteration: Kabbon Phonetic
Spelling: (kab-bone') Short Definition: Cabbon. Word ...
/hebrew/3522.htm - 5k

4903. mishkab -- couch, bed
... 4902, 4903. mishkab. 4904 . couch, bed. Transliteration: mishkab Phonetic
Spelling: (mish-kab') Short Definition: bed. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/4903.htm - 6k

3535. kibsah -- ewe lamb
... ewe lamb. Or kabsah {kab-saw'}; feminine of kebes; a ewe -- (ewe) lamb. see HEBREW
kebes. 3534, 3535. kibsah or kabsah. 3536 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/3535.htm - 6k

History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 4
... romance of Apophis and Saquinri -- The Theban princesses and the last Icings of
the XVIIth dynasty: Tiudqni Kamosis, Ahmosis I. -- The lords of El-Kab, and the ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 4/title page.htm

Volume ii. , Part C. The First Theban Empire
... The principality of Heracleopolis: Achthoes-Khiti and the Heracleopolitan
dynasties"Supremacy of the great barons: the feudal fortresses, El-Kab and Abydos ...
/.../volume ii part c the.htm

The First Theban Empire
... imagination. [Illustration: 300.jpg PART OF THE WALLS OF EL-KAB ON THE NORTHERN
SIDE]. Drawn by Boudier, from a photograph by Grebaut. ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty
... Uazmosu is represented on the tomb of Pahiri at El-Kab, where Mr. Griffith imagines ...
Amenmosu is represented at El-Kab, by the side of his brother Uazmosu. ...
/.../chapter iiithe eighteenth theban dynasty.htm

The Close of the Theban Empire
... I have remarked in tombs not yet made public the mention of princes of El-Kab, who
played an important part about the person of the Pharaohs down to the ...
/.../chapter iiithe close of the.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... leaving in every possible place marked traces of his visits"on the rocks of Elephantine
and of the first cataract, on those of Silsilis or of El-Kab, and he ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

Egypt
... The vulture was the emblem of Nekheb, the goddess of the great fortress whose ruins
are now called El-Kab; and it is probable that the city of Nekhen, which ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter v egypt.htm

Editor's Preface
... At Abydos and Kom el-Ahmar, opposite El-Kab, monuments have been disinterred of
the kings of the first and second dynasties, if not of even earlier princes ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 1/editors preface.htm

Aristeas Philokratei
... kech. K 13 om ti Eus konias eos Ar codd Eus?� energon Z 15 ripe T^corr reumati B
16 pamplethei KAB^corr 17 pepeismenois (-nos A) et autois codd corr Schmidt 19 ...
/.../aristeas philokratei.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 4. <. ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

Kab (1 Occurrence)
...KAB. kab (qabh, "something hollowed out," 2 Kings 6:25; the King James Version Cab):
A Hebrew dry measure and liquid measure equal to about 2 quarts. ...
/k/kab.htm - 7k

Kabzeel (3 Occurrences)
...kab'-ze-el, kab'-zel (kabhtse'el "(whom) God collects"): One of the "uttermost cities"
of Judah toward the border of Edom in the South (Negeb) (Joshua 15:21). ...
/k/kabzeel.htm - 8k

Juttah (3 Occurrences)

/j/juttah.htm - 9k

Cab (1 Occurrence)
... Hollow (RV, "kab"), occurs only in 2 Kings 6:25; a dry measure, the sixth part of
a seah, and the eighteenth part of an ephah, equal to about two English quarts ...
/c/cab.htm - 7k

Jekabzeel (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia JEKABZEL. je-kab'-ze-el (yeqabhtse'el, "God gathers";
Nehemiah 11:25). See KABZEEL. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/j/jekabzeel.htm - 7k

Jekabzel
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia JEKABZEL. je-kab'-ze-el (yeqabhtse'
el, "God gathers"; Nehemiah 11:25). See KABZEEL. ...
/j/jekabzel.htm - 6k

Lasted (3 Occurrences)
... Behold, they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver,
and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. ...
/l/lasted.htm - 7k

Rachab (1 Occurrence)
... RACHAB. ra'-kab (Rhachab): the King James Version; Greek form of "Rahab" (thus
Matthew 1:5 the Revised Version (British and American)). ...
/r/rachab.htm - 7k

Rechab (13 Occurrences)
... re'-kab, rek'-a-bits (rekhabh, rekhabhim): Rechab is the name of two men of some
prominence in the Old Testament records: (1) A Benjamite of the town of Beeroth ...
/r/rechab.htm - 15k

Rechabites (4 Occurrences)
... re'-kab, rek'-a-bits (rekhabh, rekhabhim): Rechab is the name of two men of some
prominence in the Old Testament records: (1) A Benjamite of the town of Beeroth ...
/r/rechabites.htm - 13k

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