The Census Tax
Exodus 30:11-16
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Exo.30.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- Exodus 25:1 (verbal): Uses the identical formula 'And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,' to introduce a new set of divine instructions (here concerning offerings and the tabernacle).
- Exodus 31:1 (verbal): Same introductory phrase launching another divine command (appointment of Bezalel and the charge to observe the Sabbath), showing the recurrent editorial formula in Exodus.
- Leviticus 1:1 (verbal): Leviticus opens many laws with the same wording—'And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation'—a close verbal/functional parallel introducing priestly legislation.
- Numbers 1:1 (verbal): Begins with the same divine-speech formula ('And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai...') to introduce the census and organization of Israel, reflecting a consistent structural marker for commands.
- Deuteronomy 5:4 (thematic): Although phrased differently ('The LORD talked with you face to face'), this verse reflects the related theme of direct divine communication to Moses/Israel and frames the giving of commandments.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
- And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Exo.30.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- תשא: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ראש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפקדיהם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+3,m,pl
- ונתנו: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כפר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- נפשו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- בפקד: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- ולא: CONJ
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- נגף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בפקד: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 24:1–17 (thematic): David's census brings divine anger and a plague (the numbered people punished) — parallels the danger of numbering Israel without the atoning ransom described in Exod 30:12.
- 1 Chronicles 21:1–7 (thematic): Parallel account of David's census and ensuing punishment; underscores the same theme that a census conducted apart from God's provision leads to calamity.
- Exodus 30:13–16 (structural): Immediate context prescribing the 'half-shekel' ransom and explaining its atoning purpose — a direct development of the requirement mentioned in v.12.
- Exodus 38:25–26 (verbal): Later summary of the census-money: each person gave a half-shekel for the service of the tent of meeting; echoes the same fixed ransom per person.
- Leviticus 27:2–8 (thematic): Laws for valuation and redemption of persons dedicated to the LORD — shares the principle of redeeming/atoning for persons by a monetary payment.
Alternative generated candidates
- When you take a census of the sons of Israel, according to their registration, then they shall give, each man, a ransom for his life to the LORD when you register them, so that there shall be no plague among them when you register them.
- When you take a census of the Israelites for their registration, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the LORD when you register them, so that there shall not be a plague among them when you register them.
Exo.30.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- יתנו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- כל: DET
- העבר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- על: PREP
- הפקדים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- מחצית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- השקל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בשקל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הקדש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- עשרים: NUM,card,pl
- גרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- השקל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מחצית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- השקל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- תרומה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Exodus 30:12–16 (structural): Immediate context of the same law — prescribes the half‑shekel ransom for the census, explains who must pay and that the money is an offering to the LORD to avert plague.
- Exodus 38:25–28 (verbal): Reiterates the collection of the half‑shekel (beka) for the sanctuary, using nearly identical wording (‘‘half a shekel… an offering to the LORD’’) and the formula that the rich give no more and the poor no less.
- Numbers 1:2–3 (thematic): Commands a census ‘‘by their families… every male from twenty years old and upward’’ — parallels the age threshold and purpose of counting men for service that underlies Exodus’ half‑shekel requirement.
- 2 Samuel 24:1–9 (thematic): Narrates a census of Israel (men counted from twenty years up) that brings divine judgment; thematically contrasts Exodus’ provision of a ransom/atonement for the census to avert punishment.
Alternative generated candidates
- This they shall give: everyone who passes through the counting—half a shekel, by the sanctuary shekel—the shekel is twenty gerahs—half a shekel as a contribution to the LORD.
- This they shall give: everyone who passes over among the registered, half a shekel by the sanctuary shekel—the shekel is twenty gerahs—half a shekel as a contribution to the LORD.
Exo.30.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כל: DET
- העבר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- על: PREP
- הפקדים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- מבן: PREP
- עשרים: NUM,card,pl
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ומעלה: CONJ
- יתן: VERB,qal,imperf,3,m,sg
- תרומת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exod.38:25-26 (verbal): Repeats the half-shekel contribution levied from everyone 'from twenty years old and upward' for the service/use of the sanctuary treasury — essentially the same regulation and wording.
- Exod.30:15 (verbal): Direct continuation of the same statute: specifies equality of the half-shekel ('the rich shall not give more, the poor shall not give less'), part of the same census-contribution ordinance.
- Num.1:2-3 (structural): God commands a census of Israel's able-bodied men 'from twenty years old and upward' for military/service purposes — parallels the age criterion and purpose of enumerating persons.
- Num.3:40-51 (thematic): Discusses counting and redemption/payments related to the Levites and firstborn (redemption money), linking themes of census, valuation, and payments made on behalf of persons set apart for service.
- 1 Chron.21:5 (verbal): David’s census likewise counts 'men that were able to go forth to war, from twenty years old and upward,' echoing the same age-based enumeration language and purpose.
Alternative generated candidates
- Everyone who passes through the counting, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the contribution to the LORD.
- Everyone who passes over among the registered, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD’s contribution.
Exo.30.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- העשיר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לא: PART_NEG
- ירבה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- והדל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- לא: PART_NEG
- ימעיט: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ממחצית: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,const
- השקל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לתת: VERB,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- תרומת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לכפר: PREP+VERB,piel,inf
- על: PREP
- נפשתיכם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+2,m,pl
Parallels
- Exod.30:11-16 (structural): Immediate context of the same law: prescribes the half‑shekel ransom for each person and the rule that rich and poor give the same amount to atone and be counted.
- Exod.38:25-28 (verbal): Repeats the collection of the half‑shekel as 'ransom money' and records the silver gathered for the service of the tent/temple, linking the payment in 30:15 to its later use.
- Matt.17:24-27 (thematic): Deals with payment for the temple (the two‑drachma/temple tax); thematically related as a mandated payment for cultic/temple upkeep and membership obligations in later Jewish practice.
- Mark 12:41-44 (cf. Luke 21:1-4) (thematic): The poor widow’s disproportionate but sacrificial giving contrasts with Exodus’ requirement of an equal half‑shekel from rich and poor, highlighting different principles for cultic dues versus voluntary offerings.
Alternative generated candidates
- The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half-shekel, to give the contribution to the LORD, to make atonement for your lives.
- The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, to give the LORD’s contribution, to make atonement for your lives.
Exo.30.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ולקחת: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הכפרים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- מאת: PREP
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ונתת: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- על: PREP
- עבדת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- אהל: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- מועד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- לבני: PREP
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לזכרון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפני: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לכפר: PREP+VERB,piel,inf
- על: PREP
- נפשתיכם: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Exodus 30:11–15 (structural): Immediate context prescribing the half-shekel census/atonement money — same ritual purpose and legal framework as v.16.
- Exodus 38:25–28 (verbal): Recounts the collection and use of the half-shekel as a ransom/atonement for the people, using language very similar to Exod 30:16.
- Numbers 3:40–51 (thematic): Describes redeeming the Levites with silver and giving the money for the service of the tabernacle — a parallel practice of redeeming/atoning a group by monetary gift for sacred service.
- Numbers 18:15–16 (verbal): Speaks of giving a ransom for the life/soul (Heb. nefesh) when redeeming the firstborn — parallels the formula “ransom/atonement for your souls.”
- Psalm 49:7–9 (thematic): Considers the idea of ransom for a life; while arguing that earthly wealth cannot ultimately redeem, it engages the same conceptual category of ‘ransom/atonement’ as applied in Exod 30:16.
Alternative generated candidates
- And you shall take the atonement money from the sons of Israel and give it for the service of the Tent of Meeting; and it shall be for the sons of Israel as a memorial before the LORD, to make atonement for your lives.
- And you shall take the silver of the ransoms from the Israelites and give it for the service of the Tent of Meeting; and it shall be for the Israelites as a memorial before the LORD, to make atonement for your lives.
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
When you take a census of the sons of Israel according to their registration, then each shall give to the LORD a ransom for his life when you number them, so that there be no plague among them when you number them.
This they shall give—everyone who passes among the counted—half a shekel by the sanctuary shekel; the shekel is twenty gerahs—half a shekel, a contribution to the LORD.
Everyone who passes among the counted, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD's contribution.
The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, to give the LORD's contribution, to make atonement for your lives. And you shall take the ransom silver from the sons of Israel, and you shall give it for the service of the Tent of Meeting; and it shall be for the sons of Israel a memorial before the LORD, to make atonement for your lives.