Shields. — Maginnîm. The mâgçn was a rouud or oval shield, about half the size of the “target” (çinnah), with which it is often contrasted; e.g., Psalms 35:2; LXX., ἀσπίδα.
Three hundred shekels of gold. — Kings, three manehs of gold. The maneh or mina (Assyrian, mana), was 1-60th part of a talent, and was equivalent to fifty or sixty shekels. Either the reading of our text is an error of transcription (sh’losh mç’ôth for sh’losheth manîm), or the word shekels is wrongly supplied in our version, and we ought rather to read drachms (100 drachms = 1 mina). The Syriac reads, “And three minas of gold wrought on the handle of one shield;” so also the Arabic.