12 “When you take a census(A) of the Israelites to register them, each of the men must pay a ransom(B) for his life to the Lord as they are registered. Then no plague(C) will come on them as they are registered. 13 Everyone who is registered must pay half a shekel[a] according to the sanctuary shekel (twenty gerahs to the shekel). This half shekel is a contribution to the Lord.(D) 14 Each man who is registered, twenty years old or more, must give this contribution to the Lord. 15 The wealthy may not give more and the poor may not give less(E) than half a shekel when giving the contribution to the Lord to atone for[b] your lives. 16 Take the atonement price[c] from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will serve as a reminder for the Israelites before the Lord to atone for your lives.”(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 30:13 A shekel is about two-fifths of an ounce of silver
  2. 30:15 Or to ransom, also in v. 16
  3. 30:16 Lit the silver of the atonement

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 after the 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 the atonement 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.

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