The silver vessels offered by the heads of the tribes for the service of the Tabernacle (Numbers 8) are thus termed in our translation, being in the original קְעָרָה (keä rah´, literally a deep dish), a bowl, elsewhere rendered "dish" (Exodus 25:29; Exodus 36:16; Numbers 4:7). These are said to have been of silver, and to have weighed each 130 shekels, or 65 oz. (Hussey, Anc. Weights, chap. 9, p. 190). The "charger" upon which the Baptist's head was presented to Herodias (comp. Homer, Il. 1:141) must have been a large platter (πίναξ, strictly a broad tablet [comp. πινακίδιον a writing-tablet, Luke 1:63], hence a wooden trencher, Matthew 14:8; Matthew 14:11; Mark 6:25; Mark 6:28; rendered "platter" in Luke 11:39). The "chargers" of gold and silver, in Ezra 1:9 (אֲגִרְטָל, agartal'), were probably, as interpreted by the Sept., Vulg., and Syriac, basins for containing the blood of sacrifices; although others make them to have been baskets for first-fruit offerings. (See BASIN); (See DISH).
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More