Exodus 30:11-16

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• The atonement tax, a flat-rate "tax" paid during a census.

Details and/or Comments

• Each 20+ year old male was to pay an atonement "tax" as he was counted.

• A failure to do so could be life-threatening.

The "Atonement" Described Here

• It was like a "reminder" to God of their atonement; and there would be no plague.

They were sinners, worthy of death. (Their lives were forfeited.)

God has set a ransom price; they paid, and it was accepted in place of their lives.

Therefore, they would not die.

• It was symbolic in nature; for lasting (eternal) atonement cannot be bought with money. Eternal atonement comes through only repentance and trust in God.

Scripture

Exodus 30:11-16 – Atonement “tax” - same for all, regardless of economic status.

• See: Tithes, Taxes, Etc.

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Exo 30:11 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, Exo 30:12 "When you take a census of the children of Israel, according to those who are numbered among them, then each man shall give a ransom for his soul to Yahweh, when you number them; that there be no plague among them when you number them. Exo 30:13 They shall give this, everyone who passes over to those who are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary; (the shekel is twenty gerahs;) half a shekel for an offering to Yahweh. Exo 30:14 Everyone who passes over to those who are numbered, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the offering to Yahweh.	All adult males had to pay.
Exo 30:15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when they give the offering of Yahweh, to make atonement for your souls.	They are all equal in God's sight.
Exo 30:16 You shall take the atonement money from the children of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the Tent of Meeting; that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before Yahweh, to make atonement for your souls."	This could only symbolize or represent the atonement, which only God could accomplish. (Today we know that God accomplished it through Christ.) Atonement

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—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.