Exodus 30:11-16

Exodus 30:11-16

[11] And the LORD  spake  unto Moses,  saying,  [12] When thou takest  the sum  of the children  of Israel  after their number,  then shall they give  every man  a ransom  for his soul  unto the LORD,  when thou numberest  them; that there be no plague  among them, when thou numberest  them. [13] This they shall give,  every one that passeth  among  them that are numbered,  half  a shekel  of the sanctuary:  (a shekel  is twenty  gerahs:)  an half  shekel  shall be the offering  of the LORD.  [14] Every one that passeth  among them that are numbered,  from twenty  years  old  and above,  shall give  an offering  unto the LORD.  [15] The rich  shall not give more,  and the poor  shall not give less  than half  a shekel,  when they give  an offering  unto the LORD,  to make an atonement  for your souls.  [16] And thou shalt take  money  of the children  of Israel,  and shalt appoint  it for the service  of the tabernacle  of the congregation;  that it may be a memorial  unto the children  of Israel  before  the LORD,  to make an atonement  for your souls. 

What does Exodus 30:11-16 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The directions regarding the tabernacle opened with instructions concerning contributions for its construction ( Exodus 25:1-9). They close with this directive that every Israelite20 years or older was to pay a flat fee of half a shekel during Israel"s census for the tabernacle"s maintenance ( Numbers 1:2; Numbers 26:2). Everyone was to pay the same amount because the cost of everyone"s atonement was the same in the Lord"s sight.
"It was no ordinary tribute, therefore, which Israel was to pay to Jehovah as its King, but an act demanded by the holiness of the theocratic covenant. As an expiation for souls, it pointed to the unholiness of Israel"s nature, and reminded the people continually, that by nature it was alienated from God, and could only remain in covenant with the Lord and live in His kingdom on the ground of His grace, which covered its sin." [1]
Israel"s leaders collected this money whenever they took a census. In time it became a yearly "temple tax" ( Matthew 17:24). A half shekel weighed .2ounces (6 grams), and it was silver. "Money" in Exodus 30:16 is literally "silver." In our Lord"s day it amounted to two days wages ( Matthew 17:24). Evidently the taking of a census incurred some guilt ( Exodus 30:12). Perhaps it reflected lack of complete trust in God to multiply the nation as He had promised (cf2Samuel24).
"Do you recognize that you belong to a redeemed world? Even if all do not avail themselves of the Redemption which has been achieved, yet it is available for all; and more benefits than we can ever estimate are always accruing since God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." [2]