Exodus 30:12-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 30:11-17

The atonement money. It pertained to the full admission of Israel to theocratic privilege, that, the nation as a whole having been admitted into covenant, a formal registration should be made of at least the grown part of the community. Directions were accordingly issued for the taking of a census, which had also in view a more complete military organisation of the nation than as yet existed. The males of the tribes from twenty years old and upwards were to be made to pass before Jehovah,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 30:12

When thou takest the sum . The sum had been taken roughly at the time of the exodus ( Exodus 12:37 ). Moses was now, it would seem, about to take it again, more accurately. No command had ever been given that the people should riot be numbered; and the Egyptian habit of compiling exact statistics naturally clung to one who had had an Egyptian training. A ransom . Rather "an expiation," "an atonement"—(as in Exodus 29:33 , Exodus 29:36 )—something to show that he was conscious of sin,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 30:12-16

The atonement money. Remark three things:— I. THE ATONEMENT MONEY WAS REQUIRED OF ALL . "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" ( Romans 3:23 ). "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" ( 1 John 1:8 ). There was to be no exemption. Moses and Aaron were to bring their half-shekel no less than the others; the priests had to make the offering, just the same as the laity; the rulers, as much as the common people. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 30:13

Half a shekel . The shekel of later times was a silver coin, about the size round of our shilling, but considerably thicker, and worth about one shilling and eightpence. But at the date of the exodus coins were unknown, and the "shekel" meant a certain weight. The burthen imposed by the tax was evidently a light one. The shekel of the sanctuary . A standard weight in the possession of the priests, equal probably to about 220 grains troy. Twenty gerahs . The word " gerah "means" a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 30:14

From twenty years old and upward . Twenty was the age at which an Israelite was reckoned a man; at twenty he became liable to serve in the wars ( 2 Chronicles 25:5 ), and entered otherwise on the duties of citizenship. At twenty the Levites began their service in the temple ( 1 Chronicles 23:24 , 1 Chronicles 23:27 ; 2 Chronicles 31:17 ; Ezra 3:8 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 30:11-16

The Ransom of Souls. - Exodus 38:25-28. On comparing these words with those of Numbers 1:1-3, we may perhaps infer that the first passage relates to a mere counting of the adult Israelites at the time when the money was taken from each, and that what the latter passage enjoins was a formal enrolment of them according to their genealogies and their order of military service.A ransom for his soul - What the sincere worshipper thus paid was at once the fruit and the sign of his faith in the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 30:12

Exodus 30:12. Every man a ransom for his soul Some think this refers only to the first numbering of them, when the tabernacle was set up, and that this tax was to make up what was wanting in the voluntary contributions. Others think it was to be always when the people were numbered; and that David offended in not demanding it when he numbered the people. But many of the Jewish writers are of opinion it was to be an annual tribute; only it was begun when Moses first numbered the people. This... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:1-16

Altar of incense; tabernacle tax (30:1-16)The altar of incense was made of wood overlaid with gold. It was much smaller than the altar of burnt offering, was located in a different place and was designed for a different purpose. It was not used for sacrifices, but only for the burning of incense, offered each morning and evening. Incense was a substance produced by grinding and blending certain spices (see v. 34-38 below), and when burnt gave off thick white smoke and a strong smell. Its... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 30:12

children = sons. man . Hebrew. 'ish. See App-14 . ransom . Hebrew. kapher = covering, hence atonement. See note on Exodus 29:33 . his soul = himself. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-13 . The acknowledgement of Ezekiel 18:4 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 30:13

shekel of the sanctuary . See App-51 . Compare Matthew 17:24 . gerah , a measure of weight. See App-51 . offering . Hebrew. terurnah. See App-43 . read more

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