The shekel was the basic weight in use among Israelites of Bible times. It was equal to about sixteen grams, and was used to weigh all sorts of things (1 Sam 17:5,7; 2 Sam 14:26; Ezek 4:10). One of its most frequent uses was in weighing money. Since most money was weighed in silver, the shekel of silver became also a common monetary unit (Gen 23:16; Exod 21:32; 30:13; 2 Sam 24:24). (See also COINS; WEIGHTS.)