Exodus 38:26

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

A bekah for every man, [that is], half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty [men].

Complete Jewish Bible:

This was a beka per person, that is, half a shekel [one-fifth of an ounce], using the sanctuary shekel, for everyone twenty years old or older counted in the census, 603,550 men.

Berean Standard Bible:

a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men.

American Standard Version:

a beka a head, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that passed over to them that were numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

A bekah^{H1235} for every man^{H1538}, that is, half^{H4276} a shekel^{H8255}, after the shekel^{H8255} of the sanctuary^{H6944}, for every one that went^{H5674} to be numbered^{H6485}, from twenty^{H6242} years^{H8141} old^{H1121} and upward^{H4605}, for six^{H8337} hundred^{H3967} thousand^{H505} and three^{H7969} thousand^{H505} and five^{H2568} hundred^{H3967} and fifty^{H2572} men.

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Commentary for Exodus 38:26

1. **Themes:**
- **Sacred Census:** Exodus 38:26 describes the census taken of the Israelite men who were able to serve in the army. This was not just a headcount but a sacred act, as each man was to contribute a half shekel as a ransom for his life to the Lord.
- **Equality Before God:** The use of a half shekel from every man, regardless of social status, emphasizes the principle of equality before God. Every individual was equally valued and had a part to play in the community.
- **Sanctuary and Worship:** The shekel mentioned is referred to as the shekel of the sanctuary, highlighting the importance of the sanctuary in the lives of the Israelites and the standard of measurement it provided for sacred matters.
- **Preparation for Service:** The census was part of the preparation for organizing the Israelites for their journey and the eventual conquest of the Promised Land. It was a practical step in forming a society structured for both worship and military service.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Timeframe:** The events described in Exodus, including the census, took place during the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites after their escape from slavery in Egypt, roughly around the 13th century BCE.
- **Purpose of the Census:** The census was conducted to determine the number of men available for military service and to collect the half shekel contribution from each. This contribution was used for the service of the Tent of Meeting, ensuring that the tabernacle functioned properly and that the priesthood could carry out its duties.
- **Population Size:** The number mentioned, 603,550 men, indicates a substantial population of Israelites at the time. This number has been subject to scholarly debate regarding its accuracy and the interpretation of the Hebrew text.
- **Cultural Practice:** The practice of contributing a half shekel for a census was unique to the Israelites and served as a means of atonement, distinguishing it from the practices of other ancient Near Eastern cultures that might conduct censuses for taxation or conscription without a religious component.

In summary, Exodus 38:26 reflects the themes of sacred census, equality, worship, and military organization within the historical context of the Israelites' journey towards the Promised Land, emphasizing the religious significance of their societal structures and practices.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1235
   There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֶּקַע
   Transliteration: beqaʻ
   Pronunciation: beh'-kah
   Description: from בָּקַע; a section (half) of ashekel, i.e. a beka (a weight and a coin); bekah, half a shekel.
   
2. Strong's Number: H1538
   There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גֻּלְגֹּלֶת
   Transliteration: gulgôleth
   Pronunciation: gul-go'-leth
   Description: by reduplication from גָּלַל; a skull (as round); by implication, a head (in enumeration of persons); head, every man, poll, skull.
   
3. Strong's Number: H4276
   There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַחֲצִית
   Transliteration: machătsîyth
   Pronunciation: makh-ats-eeth'
   Description: from חָצָהlemma חָעָה ayin, corrected to חָצָה; a halving or the middle; half (so much), mid(-day).
   
4. Strong's Number: H8255
   There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֶׁקֶל
   Transliteration: sheqel
   Pronunciation: sheh'-kel
   Description: from שָׁקַל; probably a weight; used as a commercial standard; shekel.
   
5. Strong's Number: H6944
   There are 382 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קֹדֶשׁ
   Transliteration: qôdesh
   Pronunciation: ko'-desh
   Description: from קָדַשׁ; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity; consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, ([idiom] most) holy ([idiom] day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5674
   There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָבַר
   Transliteration: ʻâbar
   Pronunciation: aw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6485
   There are 270 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּקַד
   Transliteration: pâqad
   Pronunciation: paw-kad'
   Description: a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.; appoint, [idiom] at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up, look, make, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember(-brance), set (over), sum, [idiom] surely, visit, want.
   
8. Strong's Number: H6242
   There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֶשְׂרִים
   Transliteration: ʻesrîym
   Pronunciation: es-reem'
   Description: from עֶשֶׂר; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth; (six-) score, twenty(-ieth).
   
9. Strong's Number: H8141
   There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁנֶה
   Transliteration: shâneh
   Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
   Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly).
   
10. Strong's Number: H1121
    There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֵּן
    Transliteration: bên
    Pronunciation: bane
    Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
    
11. Strong's Number: H4605
    There are 134 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַעַל
    Transliteration: maʻal
    Pronunciation: mah'al
    Description: from עָלָה; properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.; above, exceeding(-ly), forward, on ([idiom] very) high, over, up(-on, -ward), very.
    
12. Strong's Number: H8337
    There are 203 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֵׁשׁ
    Transliteration: shêsh
    Pronunciation: shaysh
    Description: masculine שִׁשָּׁה; a primitive number; compare שׂוּשׂ; six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth; six(-teen, -teenth), sixth.
    
13. Strong's Number: H3967
    There are 512 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מֵאָה
    Transliteration: mêʼâh
    Pronunciation: may-aw'
    Description: or מֵאיָה; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction; hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore.
    
14. Strong's Number: H505
    There are 496 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶלֶף
    Transliteration: ʼeleph
    Pronunciation: eh'-lef
    Description: prop, the same as אֶלֶף; hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand; thousand.
    
15. Strong's Number: H7969
    There are 381 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁלוֹשׁ
    Transliteration: shâlôwsh
    Pronunciation: shaw-loshe'
    Description: or שָׁלֹשׁ; masculine שְׁלוֹשָׁה; or שְׁלֹשָׁה; a primitive number; three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice; [phrase] fork, [phrase] often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, [phrase] thrice. Compare שָׁלִישׁ.
    
16. Strong's Number: H2568
    There are 273 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָמֵשׁ
    Transliteration: châmêsh
    Pronunciation: khaw-maysh'
    Description: masculine חֲמִשָּׁה; a primitive numeral; five; fif(-teen), fifth, five ([idiom] apiece).
    
17. Strong's Number: H2572
    There are 141 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חֲמִשִּׁים
    Transliteration: chămishshîym
    Pronunciation: kham-ish-sheem'
    Description: multiple of חָמֵשׁ; fifty; fifty.