targets] Such as captains were wont to have carried before them. of beaten gold] To give evidence of the abundant plenty of gold which he had. shekels] The root from whence the Hebrew word cometh, signifieth to weigh or poize. Our english word, skale, may thence be taken. Where mention is made of silver or gold, and no word of quantity expressed, a shekel useth to be understood, as here. See on Judges 16:5. A shekel of silver was in weight, half an ounce; in worth, two shillings and six pence. The Jews prized gold at ten times more in worth: so as half a shekel in gold was twenty and five shillings. By this account, every target weighed twenty five pound troy: and it was worth seven hundred and fifty pound sterling. See the notes on 2 Chro. 22. 14.