Coffer

Coffer (אִרגָּז, argaz'; Sept. θέμα, Vulg. capsella), the receptacle (apparently a customary appendage to a cart, from the use of the article in every occurrence) which the Philistines placed beside the ark when they sent it home, and in which they deposited the golden mice and emerods that formed their trespass-offering (1Sa 6:8,11,15). The root seems to signify to be shaken about; and Gesenius and Lee agree in regarding it as the same, or nearly the same thing, as the Arabian rijaza, which Jauhari describes as "a kind of wallet, into which stones are put: it is hung to one of the two sides of the haudaj [a litter borne by a camel or mule] when it inclines towards the other." Dr. Lee, however, thinks that the Hebrew word denotes the wallet itself; whereas Gesenius is of opinion that it means a coffer or small box, to which, from its analogous use, the same name was applied. See ARK.

⇒Bible concordance for COFFER.

⇒Definition of coffer

⇒See also the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.