For a pundit to check out, and of general interest to other readers, I imagine:
I remember reading about measurements in a Book of Mormon paper, but I don't remember anything about this (though I could be wrong):
We see that the Nephites had many different kinds of grain:
Mosiah 7:22 And all this he did, for the sole purpose of bringing this people into subjection or into bondage. And behold, we at this time do pay tribute to the king of the Lamanites, to the amount of one half of our corn, and our barley, and even all our grain of every kind, and one half of the increase of our flocks and our herds; and even one half of all we have or possess the king of the Lamanites doth exact of us, or our lives.
Yet, it seems that their measurements were based particularly on the barley seed:Alma 11:4 Now these are the names of the different pieces of their gold, and of their silver, according to their value. And the names are given by the Nephites, for they did not reckon after the manner of the Jews who were at Jerusalem; neither did they measure after the manner of the Jews; but they altered their reckoning and their measure, according to the minds and the circumstances of the people, in every generation, until the reign of the judges, they having been established by king Mosiah.
...
Alma 11:7 A senum of silver was equal to a senine of gold, and either for a measure of barley, and also for a measure of every kind of grain.
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Alma 11:14 Now this is the value of the lesser numbers of their reckoning--
Alma 11:15 A shiblon is half of a senum; therefore, a shiblon for half a measure of barley.
We have a value of a measure of barley, and of a half-measure of barley.
It has been noted by some that it is possible that king Mosiah got these measurements from the Jaredites--through Coriantumr, or others, or the stone or plates.
Well, browsing through amazon.com looking for a quote to use here, and found this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1842930958...TF8&p=S009#
While it's definitely best to see this for yourself/ read the book/ check it out from the library, here's a very quick summary of what I could see:
"The ancient Mesopotamian unit of measure" used by the Sumerians used barley seeds as a measuring device. The "barley cubit" was based on 180 "barley seeds"--but only symbolically/ figuratively/ etc.--according to one expert. However, the authors found that in fact, 180 barley seeds did add up to the unit, the "kush". They also used the "half-kush" and the "double-kush". Unfortunately, that's all I can see for now, but it seems from short selections that specifically barley seeds were also used to measure volume and weight.
Does anyone know if this is old news, has this been tied in possibly with the Jaredites before, etc.?
So, basically, if I understand what he is saying, the Sumerians are supposed to equate with the Jaradites, and the Jaradites taught the Nephites how to use barely as a measuring system. And this is somehow good evidence that the Book of Mormon is true?
Or did I miss something here?
Beastie what are your thoughts?