Exodus 30:11-16

Instructions for Numbering the People

11 And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

12 "{When you take a census of} the {Israelites} to count them, they will each give the ransom of his life for Yahweh when counting them, and a plague will not be among them when counting them.

13 This they will give, {everyone who is counted}, the half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, [which is] twenty gerahs per shekel. The half shekel [is] a contribution for Yahweh.

14 {Everyone who is counted} from {twenty years old} and above will give the contribution of Yahweh.

15 The rich will not give more, and the poor will not give less than the half shekel to give the contribution of Yahweh to make atonement for their lives.

16 And you will take the atonement money from the {Israelites} and give it to the service of the tent of assembly, and it will be as a memorial for the {Israelites} before Yahweh to make atonement for your lives."

Exodus 30:11-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 30

This chapter treats of the altar of incense, its form and use, Ex 30:1-10 of the ransom of the Israelites, with the half shekel when numbered, Ex 30:11-16 of the laver for the priests to wash their hands and feet at before service, Ex 30:17-21 of the anointing oil, the ingredients of it, and what was to be done with it, Ex 30:22-33, and of the perfume, the composition and use of it, Ex 30:34-38.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "when you lift up the heads of"
• [b]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [c]. Literally "all of the going over to the being counted"
• [d]. Literally "all of the going over to the being counted"
• [e]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [f]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [g]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"