Exodus 38:26
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a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Here is an account, I. Of the making of the brazen altar (Exo 38:1-7), and the laver (Exo 38:8). II. The preparing of the hangings for the enclosing of the court in which the tabernacle was to stand (Exo 38:9-20). III. A summary of the gold, silver, and brass, that was contributed to, and used in, the preparing of the tabernacle (Exo 38:21, etc.).
Open source ↗38:26 For the earlier discussion of this tax, see 30:11-16. The sanctuary shekel was evidently the standard against which other weights were measured for accuracy. • 603,550: See study note on 12:37.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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And all those counted totaled 603,550.
Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.
The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth with about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children.