Deuteronomy 25:13-16

Against Divers Weights and Measures

Israel shall not use these greater (for purchases) and smaller (for sales) for he who does so is an abomination to Jehovah (Deuteronomy 25:13 f., Deuteronomy 25:16). Interpolated (for it breaks the connection between Deuteronomy 25:13 f. and Deuteronomy 25:16) is a positive command to have a single normal set of weights and measures; that thy days may be long, etc. Sg. address throughout. Parallel in H, Leviticus 19:35 f., also a negative command with a positive added; but a different expression of the religious motive. The laws may be quite independent; for the provocations for them were many in Israel.

Amos 8:5 describes among other commercial sins making the ephah small(for selling) and the shekel great(for weighing the purchasers" money, etc.) and dealing falsely with false balances; Mi. Deuteronomy 6:10 declares the scant measure loathsome. To the popular piety weights and measures, like the husbandman's methods (see on Deuteronomy 22:9-11), were of divine institution, they were Jehovah's and his work(Proverbs 16:11).