five thousand talents] Eighteen millions seven hundred and fifty thousand pound sterling. See the notes on chap. 22. 14. drams] The Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is once more used, Ezra 8:27. and an other like it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ezra 2:69. Nehem. 7. 71, 72. The Septuagint translate both words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. A dram then is the fourth part of a shekel, whereof see chap. 22. 14. in value seven pence half peny of silver: of gold, six shilling three-pence. For a shekel contained twenty gerahs (Exodus 30:13.) and one gerah was three-half-pence in silver. So then half a shekel (whereat every one was rated, Exodus 30:13.) was fifteen pence. This tribute for the service of the house of God, Caesar took to himself: whereupon this question was propounded to Christ (Matthew 22:17.) is it lawfull to gve tribute to Caesar, or no? This tribute was a double dram and in Greek called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Matthew 17:24. The drams here mentioned were of gold, and amount to three thousand one hundred twenty five pounds sterling. The ten thousand talents of silver amount to the same sum. The whole sum of gold and silver here mentioned, amounts unto eighteen millions seven hundred fifty six thousand and two hundred fifty pound sterling.