The main measuring tools used in ancient Israel were the line and the rod, also referred to

as a reed (Ezekiel 41:8). The compass was used as a measuring device but that was not its prime

purpose (Isaiah 44:13). The prime purpose of the compass was to draw circles. The line had a

dual purpose being used for both measuring as well as a straight edge as Isaiah states, "he

extends a measuring line; he outlines it with red chalk" (Isaiah 44:13). The measuring line was

used as a straight edge to outline with red chalk.

 The measuring line was not only used to measure walls and to do the layout of buildings,

but also to measure long distances (Ezekiel 47:3; Jeremiah 31:39). The size of the measuring

line is not certain, but the following verse in Jeremiah indicates that it was a very long, pre-

measured, string or line, "The measuring line will go out farther straight ahead to the hill Gareb;

then it will turn to Goah" (Jeremiah 31:39 NASB). The measuring line was a very useful tool for

long distances, allowing greater accuracy than using a reed many times.

 The size of the reed, also translated as rod, is mentioned in Ezekiel 41:8 as being six great

(long) cubits. Since this "long cubit" was probably the ancient "building" cubit, a long cubit was

most likely 19 or 20 inches (see units of measurement). Therefore the great reed was

approximately ten feet long. In Ezekiel 45:1 the reed was used to measure a distance 25,000

times its length. Apparently this was the longest instrument of measurement, other than the

measuring line, used in ancient Israel.

Units of measurement

 The base unit of measurement in ancient Israel was the cubit. There is much debate on the

actual length of the cubit. Different cultures like the Egyptians, Palestinians, and Babylonians

used a unit of measure called the cubit (Porter 1913). Archaeological evidence indicates that

these cubits were not all the same length. The basis for the length of the cubit is the human arm,

originally the length of the forearm. Many scholars believe that the oldest cubit used in Israel