Joshua 7:21

a goodly Babylonish garment Literally, a goodly mantle of Shinar, i.e. Babylonia. Comp. Genesis 11:2, "They found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there," 9, "therefore is the name of it called Babel." The word here translated "garment," means a long robe, such as was worn by kings on state occasions; comp. Jonah 3:6, and by prophets, 1 Kings 19:13; 2 Kings 2:13-14; Zechariah 13:4. Probably it was stuff embroidered, made in the loom with many colours, and wrought of gold and silk threads. On the elaborate and beautiful products of the Babylonian looms see Heeren's Asiatic Nations1. 2, ff. 22; Layard's Nineveh2:319; Kitto's Bible Illustrations2:204. The word employed points to the existence of a trade already between Canaan and Mesopotamia. Wyclif renders it "a reed mentil ful good."

a wedge of gold Literally, a tongue of gold. Vulg. regula aurea, "a golden bar," or "a tongue-shaped jewel made of gold," "a golden rewle of fifti siclis," Wyclif. The name lingulawas given by the Romans to a spoon, and to an oblong dagger made in the shape of a tongue. The weight of the wedge was 50 shekels = about 25 ounces. See The Speaker's Commentaryin loc.

the silver under it The mantle would naturally lie at the top, then the tongue of gold, and the silver lowest.