CHEST (אֲרﯴן, H778, גֶּ֫נֶז֒, H1709; LXX κιβωτός, γλωσσόκομον, θησαυρός, σορός). “A box (of any size) for keeping valuables.”

אֲרﯴן, H778, means “chest” or “ark.” Invariably it denotes the sacred Ark of the Covenant (אֲרֹ֣ון הַבְּרִ֔ית) except (1) once when it refers to Joseph’s “sarcophagus” or “mummy-case” (Gen 50:26; LXX σορός, G5049, “coffin,” “bier”; KJV, RSV “coffin”), and (2) six times when it indicates the “chest” for monetary offerings which Jehoiada placed beside the altar in the Temple (2 Kings 12:9, 10; 2 Chron 24:8, 10, 11). However in 2 Kings 12:9 and 10 the LXX tr. אֲרﯴן, H778, as κιβωτός, G3066, “box,” “chest”—the same word which LXX uses for the ark of Noah (Gen 6:14). In 2 Chronicles 24:8, 10, 11 LXX tr. אֲרﯴן, H778, as γλωσσόκομον, G1186. Originally this Gr. word meant a “case” for the mouthpiece or reed of a flute; then generally it came to mean a “container” or “case” for anything. In NT it denotes “money box” (John 12:6; 13:29).

The problem passage is Ezekiel 27:24 where גֶּ֫נֶז֒, H1709, appears in the pl. construct (גִנְזֵ֖י as always in OT). LXX has θησαυρός, G2565, “casket,” “coffer,” or other “receptacle” in which valuables are kept; “treasure box,” “chest,” maybe even “collection box” (MM); Vul. gaza the “royal treasure” in Persia; in general “treasure,” “riches,” “wealth”; Luther Kasten “chest,” “box,” “coffer”; KJV, ASV “chests”; RSV, BV “carpets.” KJV and RSV both tr. גִּנְזֵ֥י as “treasuries” (Esth 3:9, LXX γαζοφυλάκιον, G1126, “treasury”) and (4:7, LXX γάζα “treasure” or “a large sum of money”—a Pers. word). Apparently the meaning of גִנְזֵ֖י (Ezek 27:24) is “chests” of variegated cloth (BDB 170).

Bibliography B. P. Grenfell, A. S. Hunt, and J. G. Smyly (eds.), The Tebtunis Papyri, I (1902-1907), 6. 27; J. de M. Johnson, V. Martin, and A. S. Hunt (eds.), Catalogue of the Greek Papyri in the John Rylands Library, Manchester, II (1911-1915), 127.25; Aegyptische Urkunden aus den königlichen Museen zu Berlin: Griechische Unkunden, III (1895-1926), 717.13.