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 Samuel 17:5; 1 Samuel 17:7; 2 Samuel 14:26; Ezekiel 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 (Genesis 23:16; Exodus 21:32; Exodus 30:13; 2 Samuel 24:24). (See also COINS; WEIGHTS.)