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 his life 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 (twenty gerahs to the shekel). This half shekel is a contribution to the Lord.(D) 14 Each man who is registered, twenty 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 price[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 your lives.”(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 30:13 A shekel is about two-fifths of an ounce of silver
  2. 30:15 Or to ransom, also in v. 16
  3. 30:16 Lit the silver of the atonement

Census and compensation

11 The Lord spoke to Moses: 12 When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each of them should pay compensation for their life to the Lord when they are counted. Then no plague will descend on them when they are counted. 13 Every one who is counted should pay a half shekel according to the official shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs). The half shekel is a gift offering to the Lord. 14 Every one who is counted, from 20 years old and above, should present a gift offering to the Lord. 15 When you bring this gift offering to the Lord to pay compensation for your lives, the rich shouldn’t give more and the poor shouldn’t give less than the half shekel. 16 Take the compensation money from the Israelites and use it to support the service of the meeting tent. It will serve for the Israelites as a reminder in the Lord’s presence of the compensation paid for your lives.

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