Exodus 30:15

15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than 1the half shekel, when you give the LORD's offering to make atonement for your lives.

Exodus 30:15 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 30:15

The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give
less than half a shekel
Which shows that the Israelites were alike in the esteem of God, their worldly circumstances making no difference; their souls being alike, the same ransom price was given for them; and that they were all to have an equal share in the service and sanctuary of God, and the price was set so low, that the poorest man might be able to pay it: and even Maimonides F25 says, if he lived on alms, he was to beg it of others, or sell his clothes from off his back to pay it. This shows the equality of the redeemed and ransomed of the Lord; for though some sins and sinners are greater than others, and some are redeemed from more sins than others, yet all sins being infinite, as committed against an infinite God, but one price is paid for all, and that is the precious blood of Christ, the Son of God, an infinite and divine Person; hence all the ransomed ones have the same faith, righteousness, salvation, and eternal life:

when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make atonement for
your souls;
which have sinned, are liable to death for it, are the more excellent part of men, and require a great price for the redemption and ransom of them; and hence it is so great a blessing to be ransomed, because it is the ransom of the soul: and such is the efficacy of Christ's ransom, that it is a full atonement for the souls of men, and their sins, and completely delivers from sin, Satan, the law, death, and hell.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 Hilchot Shekalim, c. 1. sect. 1.

Exodus 30:15 In-Context

13 Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs),half a shekel as an offering to the LORD.
14 Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD's offering.
15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the LORD's offering to make atonement for your lives.
16 You shall take the atonement money from the people of Israel and shall give it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may bring the people of Israel to remembrance before the LORD, so as to make atonement for your lives."
17 The LORD said to Moses,

Cross References 1

  • 1. [See ver. 13 above]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.