Exodus 38:26

26 They gave a beqa per person (that is, half a shekel, measured by the sanctuary shekel) for everyone who was counted in the census, 20 years old and above, 603,550 men.

Exodus 38:26 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 38:26

A bekah for every man, [that is], half a shekel, after the
shekel of the sanctuary
A half shekel was called a "bekah", from (eqb) , "bakah", to divide; because it was a shekel divided into two parts:

for everyone that went to be numbered, from twenty years and
upwards;
in order to give a ransom, and make an atonement for their souls, as was ordered ( Exodus 30:12-15 )

for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and
fifty [men];
so that from the time of their coming out of Egypt, which was now about six months ago, there was an increase of 3550 of the above age; see ( Exodus 12:37 ) .

Exodus 38:26 In-Context

24 The total amount of the gold that was used for construction of the whole sanctuary, gold from the uplifted offerings, was twenty-nine kikkars and seven hundred thirty shekels in weight, measured by the sanctuary shekel.

25 The silver from the community census totaled one hundred kikkars and one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels in weight, measured by the sanctuary shekel.

26 They gave a beqa per person (that is, half a shekel, measured by the sanctuary shekel) for everyone who was counted in the census, 20 years old and above, 603,550 men.

27 One hundred kikkars of silver were used to cast the bases for the sanctuary and the bases for the veil, one hundred bases from one hundred kikkars of silver, one kikkar for every base.

28 He used one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels of silver to make the hooks for the posts, cover their tops, and make bands for them.