‘ And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescents and the pendants, and the purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were on their camels' necks.'
A large amount of gold was thus gathered (about 19 kilograms or over forty pound weight if it was the ordinary shekel) as well as some purple cloth. Purple was a favourite colour for rulers, and especially among nomads.