Each person who is counted must give a small piece of silver as a sacred offering to the Lord. (This payment is half a shekel, based on the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs.)

Commentaries

4

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

AlbertBarnes

18th Century
Presbyterian
18th Century

The Ransom of Souls. - [Exodus 38:25–28]. On comparing these words with those of [Numbers 1:1–3]…

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

CharlesEllicott

19th Century
Anglican
19th Century

Half a shekel. —When shekels came to be coined, they were round pieces of silver, about the circumference of a shilling, but consi…

John Gill

John Gill

JohnGill

17th Century
Reformed Baptist
17th Century

This they shall give, everyone that passes among them
that are numbered
And their num…

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

MatthewHenry

17th Century
Presbyterian
17th Century

The tribute was half a shekel, equivalent to about fifteen pence. The rich were not to give more, nor the poor less; the souls of the rich and poor…