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Exodus 30:13

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This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel [is] twenty gerahs:) an half shekel [shall be] the offering of the LORD.

This they shall give {H5414}, every one that passeth {H5674} among {H5921} them that are numbered {H6485}, half {H4276} a shekel {H8255} after the shekel {H8255} of the sanctuary {H6944}:(a shekel {H8255} is twenty {H6242} gerahs {H1626}:) an half {H4276} shekel {H8255} shall be the offering {H8641} of the LORD {H3068}.

Everyone subject to the census is to pay as an offering to ADONAI half a shekel [one-fifth of an ounce of silver]- by the standard of the sanctuary shekel (a shekel equals twenty gerahs).

Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.

This they shall give, every one that passeth over unto them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary; (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel for an offering to Jehovah.

Commentary

Context

Exodus 30:13 is part of God's detailed instructions to Moses concerning the construction and administration of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary where God would dwell among His people. Specifically, this verse introduces the mandate for a unique offering tied to a census of the Israelite men aged twenty years and upward. The preceding verse, Exodus 30:12, explains that this payment served as "ransom for their souls," preventing a plague when the people were numbered. This "half-shekel tax" was a recurring obligation for the maintenance of the Tabernacle and later the Temple.

Key Themes

  • Atonement and Redemption: The primary purpose of the half-shekel offering was to serve as "atonement money" (Exodus 30:16) for the souls of the Israelites. It was a symbolic payment acknowledging that all lives belong to God and that redemption is necessary. This concept prefigures the ultimate redemption found in Jesus Christ, who paid the full price for humanity's sin.
  • Equality Before God: Crucially, everyone, rich or poor, gave the same amount: "half a shekel." This emphasized that all individuals were equally valuable in God's sight and equally in need of atonement. There was no distinction based on wealth or status when it came to their standing before the Lord. This principle resonates with the New Testament teaching that in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female.
  • Support for the Sanctuary: The funds collected from this offering were designated for the service of the Tabernacle (Exodus 30:16), used for its maintenance, the purchase of sacrificial animals, and the needs of the priests. It represented a communal responsibility to sustain the place of worship and the means of their relationship with God.

Linguistic Insights

The term "shekel" (Hebrew: שֶׁקֶל, sheqel) refers to a unit of weight, which also became a standard monetary unit in ancient Israel. The phrase "shekel of the sanctuary" indicates a specific, unchanging standard of weight maintained within the Tabernacle or temple, ensuring fairness and accuracy in all transactions related to sacred offerings. This standard was often heavier than common market shekels. The "gerah" (Hebrew: גֵּרָה, gerah) was a smaller unit of weight, with twenty gerahs making up one shekel, as explicitly stated in the verse. This precision highlights the meticulousness required in matters pertaining to God's commands and offerings, emphasizing integrity in worship.

Practical Application

While believers today are not under the Mosaic Law to pay a half-shekel temple tax, the spiritual principles embedded in this verse remain profoundly relevant for understanding our relationship with God and our role in His kingdom:

  1. We are all equally dependent on God's grace and equally in need of spiritual atonement, which is fully provided through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. Our salvation is not earned by works or wealth.
  2. Supporting the work of God's kingdom, whether through financial contributions, time, or talents, is a communal responsibility. Our giving should be motivated by a spirit of worship and a recognition of God's provision, contributing to the spread of the Gospel and the care of the church body.
  3. God values equality and impartiality among His people. Our worth and standing before Him are not determined by our worldly status or possessions, but by our faith and obedience.
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Cross-References

  • Leviticus 27:25 (6 votes)

    And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.

  • Numbers 3:47 (5 votes)

    Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take [them]: (the shekel [is] twenty gerahs:)

  • Ezekiel 45:12 (4 votes)

    And the shekel [shall be] twenty gerahs: twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.

  • Exodus 38:26 (3 votes)

    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].

  • Matthew 17:24 (3 votes)

    ¶ And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute [money] came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

  • Matthew 27:24 (2 votes)

    When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but [that] rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed [his] hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye [to it].