Editing Cubit (section)

==Biblical cubit==
{{Main|Biblical and Talmudic units of measurement}}
The standard of the cubit ({{langx|he|אמה}}) in different countries and in different ages has varied. This realization led the rabbis of the 2nd century [[Common Era|CE]] to clarify the length of their cubit, saying that the measure of the cubit of which they have spoken "applies to the cubit of middle-size".<ref name="MishnahMaimonides1967">''Mishnah with Maimonides' Commentary'' (ed. [[Yosef Qafih]]), vol. 3, [[Mossad Harav Kook]]: Jerusalem 1967, ''Middot'' 3:1 [p. 291] (Hebrew).</ref> In this case, the requirement is to make use of a standard 6 handbreadths to each cubit,<ref>[[Mishnah]] (''Kelim'' 17:9–10, pp. [https://archive.org/details/DanbyMishnah/page/n657 629, note 14 – 630]). In the [[Tosefta]] (''Kelim Baba-Metsia'' 6:12–13), however, it brings down a second opinion, namely, that of [[Rabbi Meir]], who distinguishes between a medium-sized cubit of 5 handbreadths, used principally for rabbinic measurements in measuring the bare and untilled ground near a vineyard and where there is a prohibition to grow therein seed plants under the laws of [[Diverse kinds|Diverse Kinds]], and a larger cubit of 6 handbreadths used to measure therewith the altar. Cf. [[Saul Lieberman]], ''Tosefet Rishonim'' (part 3), Jerusalem 1939, p. 54, s.v. איזו היא אמה בינונית, where he brings down a variant reading of the same Tosefta and where it has 6 handbreadths, instead of 5 handbreadths, for the medium size cubit.</ref><ref>Cf. {{cite book|last=Warren|first=C.|author-link=Charles Warren|title=The Ancient Cubit and Our Weights and Measures |publisher=The Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund|year=1903|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/details/ancientcubitourw00warruoft/page/4/mode/1up 4]|url=https://archive.org/details/ancientcubitourw00warruoft/page/n3/mode/2up |language=en|oclc=752584387}}</ref> and which handbreadth was not to be confused with an outstretched palm, but rather one that was clenched and which handbreadth has the standard width of 4&nbsp;fingerbreadths (each fingerbreadth being equivalent to the width of a thumb, about 2.25&nbsp;cm).<ref>[[Tosefta]] (''Kelim Baba-Metsia'' 6:12–13)</ref><ref>''Mishnah with Maimonides' Commentary'' (ed. [[Yosef Qafih]]), vol. 1, [[Mossad Harav Kook]]: Jerusalem 1963, ''Kila'im'' 6:6 [p. 127] (Hebrew).</ref> This puts the handbreadth at roughly {{convert|9|cm|in|frac=2|abbr=on}}, and 6&nbsp;handbreadths (1&nbsp;cubit) at {{convert|54|cm|in|frac=2|abbr=on}}. [[Epiphanius of Salamis]], in his treatise ''[[On Weights and Measures (Epiphanius)|On Weights and Measures]]'', describes how it was customary, in his day, to take the measurement of the biblical cubit: "The cubit is a measure, but it is taken from the measure of the forearm. For the part from the elbow to the wrist and the palm of the hand is called the cubit, the middle finger of the cubit measure being also extended at the same time and there being added below (it) the span, that is, of the hand, taken all together."<ref>''Epiphanius' Treatise on Weights and Measures – the Syriac Version'' (ed. James Elmer Dean, The University of Chicago Press: Chicago 1935, p.&nbsp;69.</ref>

Rabbi [[Avraham Chaim Naeh]] put the linear measurement of a cubit at {{convert|48|cm|in|frac=2|abbr=on}}.<ref>Abraham Haim Noe, ''Sefer Ḳuntres ha-Shiʻurim'' (Abridged edition from ''Shiʻurei Torah''), Jerusalem 1943, p. 17 (section 20).</ref> [[Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz]] (the "Chazon Ish"), dissenting, put the length of a cubit at {{convert|57.6|cm|in|frac=16|abbr=on}}.<ref>Chazon Ish, ''Orach Chaim'' 39:14.</ref>

Rabbi and philosopher [[Maimonides]], following the [[Talmud]], makes a distinction between the cubit of 6&nbsp;handbreadths used in ordinary measurements, and the cubit of 5&nbsp;handbreadths used in measuring the [[Altar (Bible)#Altar of Incense|Golden Altar]], the base of the [[Altar (Bible)#Altar of burnt offering|altar of burnt offerings]], its circuit and the horns of the altar.<ref name="MishnahMaimonides1967" />