Exodus 30:12-15

12 “When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the LORD a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.

13 Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel,^[a] according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.

14 All who cross over, those twenty years old or more, are to give an offering to the LORD.

15 The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives.

Exodus 30:12-15 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. Exodus 38:25; Numbers 1:2,49; Numbers 4:2,29; Numbers 14:29; Numbers 26:2; Numbers 31:26; 2 Samuel 24:1; 2 Kings 12:4
• 2. Exodus 38:26; Numbers 31:50; S Matthew 20:28
• 3. Numbers 14:12; Deuteronomy 28:58-61; 2 Samuel 24:13; 1 Kings 8:37
• 4. ver 24; Exodus 38:24,26; Leviticus 5:15; Leviticus 27:3,25; Numbers 3:47; Numbers 7:13; Numbers 18:16; Ezekiel 4:10; Ezekiel 45:12; Matthew 17:24
• 5. Exodus 38:26; Numbers 1:3,18; Numbers 14:29; Numbers 26:2; Numbers 32:11; 2 Chronicles 25:5
• 6. Proverbs 22:2; Ephesians 6:9

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, about 1/5 ounce or about 5.8 grams; also in verse 15