Bible Dictionaries
Dial

Easton's Bible Dictionary

For the measurement of time, only once mentioned in the Bible, erected by Ahaz (2 Kings 20:11; Isaiah 38:8 ). The Hebrew word (ma'aloth) is rendered "steps" in Ex Exodus 10:19 , and "degrees" in 2 Kings 20:9,10,11 . The Ma'aloth was probably stairs on which the shadow of a column or obelisk placed on the top fell. The shadow would cover a greater or smaller number of steps, according as the sun was low or high.

Probably the sun-dial was a Babylonian invention. Daniel at Babylon ( Daniel 3:6 ) is the first to make mention of the "hour."