Ezra 2:69 - Exposition

After their ability. As each was able; the richer more, the poorer less. Threescore and one thousand drams of gold. The word translated "dram" is darkemon , which appears to be the Hebrew representative of the Persian word which the Greeks rendered by dareikos , or "daric . " This was a gold coin, stamped with the figure of a Persian king, wearing his crown, and armed with a bow and arrow. According to the most exact computation, each such coin contained somewhat more pure gold than an English guinea, and was worth £1 1s. 10.5d. of our money. The 61,000 darics would therefore have been equal to £66,718 15s. Five thousand pounds of silver. The word translated "pound" is maneh , an equivalent of the Greek tuna and the Latin mind. In Greece the silver mind was worth a little more than £4 of our money. The value of the Hebrew silver munch is uncertain, but probably was not very different from the Greek. Thus the sum contributed in silver may be estimated at above £20,000, and the entire contribution at nearly £90,000. It must be noted, however, that Nehemiah's estimate ( Nehemiah 7:71 , Nehemiah 7:72 ) is less. One hundred priests' garments. Nehemiah says ninety-seven ( Nehemiah 7:70 , Nehemiah 7:72 ), whence we may conclude that Ezra uses a round number.