Who Could Worship.
The Tabernacle of God was not open to whosoever will, at any
time or in any old way.
Firstly only the redeemed were eligible for worship in the
tabernacle; that is to say the children of Israel ; but there were
preconditions.
Moses were ordered
to number the children of Israel, and so that everyone being male over 21 who
was numbered was required after being numbered to give every man as a ransom
for his soul, so that no plague shall come among them, a half a shekel as a
gift to the Lord.
This half
shekel was a fixed amount and not subject to or conditioned in accordance with
wealth or poverty. Every man rich or
poor was required to give the same amount. This was presumably based on the simple fact
that every man, rich or poor needed the Lord’s protection; and his protection
was not based on a man’s wealth or poverty.
Clearly the
stipulation of a half shekel was an amount which the Lord knew was within every
man’s means. So the amount was the same for all men twenty years and
upwards. It was given for his atonement.
The Text
does not state silver or gold; but since there were probably not any gold or
silver coins in that Hebrew period, it was no doubt a reference to a certain
weight of silver, being one of the means of exchange by way of barter, along
with cattle, grain, and spices.
This
atonement money did not go to the use or support of the priests, but was
specifically designated to be used for the service and or upkeep of the
tabernacle. Thus only the numbered and
gift giving fell within the embrace of eligibility for temple worship. More
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