Israeli prophetism in the face of the practice of using false scales

Abstract

As pointed out in the biblical accounts, the various periods of Israelite prophetism were times of many events, which caused considerable impacts and contributed to social, cultural, political, economic and religious transformations. Among so many events, one of them became a usual practice that was, negatively, always present in the economic-religious scope, and that was used by people of different social and religious classes. This practice was the use of the false scale. Thus, through bibliographic sources and biblical narratives, we aim to identify and demonstrate the close relationship that existed between the false scales and traders/merchants, and also, between it and many religious leaders. However, by order of Yahweh, there were harsh reactions on the part of the true prophets against this practice. Finally, the article concludes that the various mechanisms employed in the use of the false balance had, unfortunately, become a sociocultural-religious “heritage” in ancient Israel. And this occurred, even in the face of harsh oracles uttered by the prophets.