The Atonement Money

11 The Lord spoke to Moses: 12 “When you take a census(A) of the Israelites to register them, each of the men must pay a ransom(B) for himself to the Lord as they are registered. Then no plague(C) will come on them as they are registered. 13 Everyone who is registered must pay half a shekel[a] according to the sanctuary shekel (20 gerahs to the shekel). This half shekel is a contribution to the Lord.(D) 14 Each man who is registered, 20 years old or more, must give this contribution to the Lord. 15 The wealthy may not give more and the poor may not give less(E) than half a shekel when giving the contribution to the Lord to atone for[b] your lives. 16 Take the atonement money[c] from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will serve as a reminder for the Israelites before the Lord to atone for[d] your lives.”(F)

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 30:13 About 2⁄5 of an ounce of silver
  2. Exodus 30:15 Or to ransom
  3. Exodus 30:16 Lit the silver of the atonement
  4. Exodus 30:16 Or to ransom

Paying the Temple Tax

24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the double-drachma tax[a] approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your Teacher pay the double-drachma tax?”(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 17:24 Jewish men paid this tax to support the temple; Ex 30:11-16. A double-drachma could purchase 2 sheep.

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