The Giant Golden Calf

According to Rashi the renowned commentator of the Tanack, claims the "Golden Calf" in Exodus 32:4 was made of 125 kanterin of gold. [Rashi on Shemos 32:4] now Rashi's figure gives us a long mathematical calculation which would take a genius to figure out.  let me give you an example of what I mean.

The Torah Maths project gives us the figures on how to calculate the size of this calf:

A. How many maneh of gold was used for the golden calf if measured in kikarim? Give the answer for both the smaller and larger measure of a kikar.

kanter = kikar

Large: 125 kanterin x 120 = 15,000 maneh

Small: 125 kanerin x 60 = 7,500 maneh.

B. A maneh is twenty five sela’im. How many sela’im of gold were used for the golden calf? Give the answer for both the smaller and larger measure of a kikar.

Large : 15,000 maneh x 25 = 370,000 sela’im

Small: 7,500 maneh x 25 = 187,500 sela’im

C. A sela is the same as a shekel. [Rashi Shemos 38:24] A Shekel is 0.51troy oz. (Chazon Ish Yoreh Deah 182:19) What was the weight calf in troy ounces? Give the answer for both the smaller and larger measure of a kikar.

Large: .51oz x 370,000 shekels = 188,700 oz

Small: .51oz x 187,500 shekels = 94,350 oz

D. The volume of one troy oz is 0.1 cubic inches. What was the volume of the golden calf? Give the answer for both the smaller and larger measure of a kikar.

Large: 18,870 in3

Small: 9,435 in3

E. If this amount of gold was put into a cube, what would the dimensions of the cube in inches (to the nearest 100th of an inch) Give the answer for both the smaller and larger measure of a kikar.

Large:

F. In order to get some idea of the size of the golden calf let’s imagine that that gold was put into a block where the height was twice the width and the length was twice the height. What is the height, length and width of that cube in inches? Give the answer for both the smaller and larger measure of a kikar.

Width = x; Height = 2x; Length = 4x

Volume = Width * Height * Length

Volume = x * 2x * 4x

Volume = 8x3

Volume/8 =x3

= x

Large:

18,870 in3 = x

13.3115094372 =x

Width = x; Height = 2x; Length = 4x

Width = 13.3115094372; Height = 2 * 13.3115094372 ; Length = 4* 13.3115094372

Width = 13.3115094372 inches; Height = 26.62302 inches ; Length = 53.24604 inches

Small

9,435 in3

= x

10.5653520419 = x

Width = x; Height = 2x; Length = 4x

Width = 10.5653520419; Height = 2 * 10.5653520419 ; Length = 4* 10.5653520419

Width = 10.5653520419; inches; Height = 21.1307 inches ; Length = 42.26141 inches

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Rather then making your brain twist and turn lets make this simple

Rashi also tells us that the עֵגֶּל הַזָהָב (golden calf) was made of 125 kanterin of gold. [Rashi on Shemos 32:4]. Targum Yonasan says a kanter is the same as a kikar. Rashi says that a kikar is normally sixty maneh This is the smaller measure of a kikar. However, when the kikar when used to measure objects for the Mishkan (Tabernacle) or the Beis HaMikdash (Large Temple) it was equal to 120 maneh. [Rashi on Shemos 38:24]. This is the larger measure of a kikar.

Now the Torah says that the Menorah for the Miskan was made of one kikar of gold. (Shemos Exodus 25:39 – Terumah) There are 3,000 shekel in a kikar. According the Chazon Ish a shekel is 0.51 Troy Oz. How much did the Menorah weight in Troy Oz.

3,000 x .051 = 1,530 oz.

Using this figure, we can get a rough calculation on how big the Golden Calf was.  If we calculate 3,000 x 125 kikar then we get 375,000 oz. now if we covert 375,000 into pounds, then we get 23437.5. this calculation goes beyond imagination as an Elephant weighs roughly 5,000 pounds to more than 14,000 pounds. This Golden Calf would have been twice as big as a train carriage. Average train carriage weighs 6 tons; however, this Calf would have weighed more than 11 tons if we convert 23437.5 pounds into tons.

Here's the other problematic part. How long did it take to burn such a huge monster size calf as mentioned Exodus 32 and Deuteronomy 9. also gold does not burn into ashes.Can you imagine burning two train carriages made from solid gold. How long would it take?