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Gabb, Thomas
Finis pyramidis or Disquisitions concerning the antiquity and scientific end of the great pyramid of Giza, or ancient Memphis, in Egypt, and of the first standard of linear measure — Retford, 1806

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https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8#0117
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unqualified acceptation of customary cubits, tbe differ-
ence is apparent to all the world : but 30 cubits, of the
primitive measure, was certainly known to St. Jerome,
to be equal to, and intended, by him, to express 120 of
the then circulated and customary cubits ; otherwise
his; illustration of the dimensions, by the insertion of
the primitive measure, had been to no purpose, and al-
together nugatory.

Hence it is demonstration, the primitive measure., in
question, was a quantity, by whatever name originally
called, equal to 4 customary cubits, or cubits of Cairo,
which are equal to the length of the granite Chest in
the Pyramid ; and Was that which is denoted by u«, the
fathom of the Hebrews.

It is evident the height, 120 cubits, alludes to cubits
habitually and usually so called: but why the author of the
first book of Kings, recorded all the three dimensions by
cubits, which are, by the above positions and reasoning,
proved to contain four times the length of the customary
cubit, is a problem, which, though it no ways questions
the conclusion of the former, seems to call for a solution«
We must consider, then, that the great number of Ty-
nan workmen, that were seat to Solomon, called stran-
gers, in the sacred text, no doubt, brought with them,
their own terms of art, and denomination of measured
and the cubit of Cairo, was the only great or integral
measure they used : whereas the Jews, the natural sub-
jects, were accustomed to a measure four times that
length, as their highest integral denomination, and
though the fourths of it were, at first, recognized by the
Jewish workmen, as the cubit of the foreigners, yet as
these strangers; persevered in their term cubit or pechas»
er by vrhatever» name cubit wa*jcafled ia their language»

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