Exodus 30:11-16

The Census Offering

11 Then the LORD said to Moses, ¹

12 “When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered.

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

14 Everyone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the LORD.

15 In making the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives, the rich shall not give more than a half shekel, nor shall the poor give less.

16 Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD 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.

Cross References

• 1. (2 Samuel 24:1–9; 1 Chronicles 21:1–6)

Footnotes

• [a]. A half shekel is approximately 0.2 ounces or 5.7 grams; also in verse 15.
• [b]. 20 gerahs is equivalent to one shekel (approximately 0.4 ounces or 11.4 grams).