Exodus 36:26 kjv
And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Exodus 36:26 nkjv
and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under each of the boards.
Exodus 36:26 niv
and forty silver bases?two under each frame.
Exodus 36:26 esv
and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one frame and two bases under the next frame.
Exodus 36:26 nlt
with their forty silver bases, two bases under each frame.
Exodus 36 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 30:11-16 | When you take the census... each one who crosses over... half a shekel... a ransom for his life... for the service of the tent of meeting. | Original instruction for the half-shekel as atonement money and its purpose. |
| Ex 38:25-28 | The silver from those who were counted was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels... 100 talents for casting the bases... the sockets for the frames... bases for the screen... | Details the specific use of this collected silver for the Tabernacle's foundations. |
| Num 1:2-3, 46 | Take a census... from twenty years old and upward... all Israel... these were the numbered ones, 603,550. | Confirms the exact number of men counted in the census. |
| Num 26:51 | These were the numbered of the sons of Israel, 603,550. | Further confirmation of the census total. |
| Lev 27:25 | All valuations shall be by the shekel of the sanctuary... twenty gerahs to the shekel. | Defines the exact standard of the "sanctuary shekel." |
| Lev 27:3 | A valuation for a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old shall be fifty shekels of silver. | Contrast: valuation for a dedicated person (higher) versus redemption for life (lower). |
| 2 Kgs 12:4-5 | Jehoash said to the priests, "All the money of the holy things... that is brought into the house of the LORD... from a counted man." | Later instances of dedicated money for the maintenance of God's house. |
| Neh 10:32-33 | We also take on ourselves the obligation to charge ourselves yearly with a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God. | Ongoing, regulated support for the temple post-exile, continuing a principle. |
| Mt 17:24-27 | When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter... "He said, 'Yes.' "... for Me and for them. | Jesus paying the temple tax (equal to half-shekel), illustrating adherence to law while revealing His authority. |
| Rom 3:23-24 | For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. | Theological depth of "ransom for life," highlighting spiritual redemption in Christ. |
| 1 Tim 2:5-6 | For there is one God... the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all. | Directly links Christ's sacrifice to the concept of "ransom for life." |
| Eph 2:19-22 | You are no longer strangers... built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. | Spiritual application: Christ as the ultimate foundation of God's new dwelling (the church), echoing the silver sockets. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices. | Believers as "living stones" in God's spiritual house, parallel to the physical Tabernacle components. |
| 1 Cor 3:11-12 | For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver... | "Silver" as precious material in building God's spiritual house. |
| Heb 9:22 | Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. | While a money offering, the "atonement for life" principle foreshadows the necessity of blood atonement. |
| 1 Chron 29:3-9 | I have provided for the house of my God... gold... silver... The people rejoiced because they had given willingly... | Illustrates communal and willing contribution for the building of God's sanctuary. |
| Hag 1:4 | Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? | Principle of prioritizing God's house and collective effort in its construction/maintenance. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. | General principle of giving for God's work, building on the spirit of voluntary yet commanded contributions. |
| Zech 4:6-7 | Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts... he shall bring forth the topstone. | God's power ultimately enables His house to be built, though human contribution is required. |
| Heb 8:5 | They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed... | The Tabernacle, built with these specific materials, was a shadow of greater heavenly realities. |
Exodus 36 verses
Exodus 36 26 Meaning
Exodus 36:26 details the exact amount of silver collected from each Israelite man during the census for the construction of the Tabernacle. Each man, twenty years old and upward, who was counted in the census, was required to contribute a beka per head, which equated to half a shekel according to the specific, precise "sanctuary shekel" standard. This collective offering, totaling for 603,550 men, formed the substantial financial basis, particularly for the silver sockets of the Tabernacle's framework. This contribution served as an atonement for their lives and highlighted communal participation in establishing God's dwelling place among them.
Exodus 36 26 Context
Exodus chapter 36 details the commencement and progress of the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, meticulously following the divine blueprint revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex 25-31). Following the Israelites' enthusiastic contribution of freewill offerings of gold, fabrics, and precious stones (Ex 35:20-29), verse 26 focuses on a mandatory specific offering of silver. This specific silver contribution stems from the census commandment in Exodus 30:11-16, where each Israelite male aged twenty and above was required to give a half-shekel as atonement for his life. The present verse, therefore, serves as an accounting statement, confirming the collection of this precise silver amount from the designated population group, all contributing to the structural components of God's portable dwelling place. Historically, the collection and accounting were crucial for ancient building projects, especially those with divine instruction, reflecting precision and adherence to Yahweh's commands amidst the wilderness journey.
Exodus 36 26 Word analysis
a beka a head:
- beqah (בֶּקַע): A Hebrew unit of weight, meaning "half," specifically defining half a shekel. It represents a precise, universally applied contribution for each individual.
- Significance: This unit ensures a uniform, non-variable amount, emphasizing equality in contribution for atonement regardless of wealth or status.
(that is, half a shekel by the sanctuary shekel):
- shekel (שֶׁקֶל, sheqel): A common unit of weight and currency in ancient Israel and the Near East.
- sanctuary shekel (שֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ, sheqel haqqodesh): This specific designation implies a precise, fixed, and divinely sanctioned standard of weight, differing from ordinary market shekels which might vary. It underscores the holiness, accuracy, and immutability of God's requirements. It ensured that no one could shortchange the Lord and maintained integrity in sacred finances.
- Significance: The consistent half-shekel symbolizes that all stand equally in need of atonement before God and are equally valued in contributing to His service. This specific standard ensured the purity and uniformity of offerings, upholding divine integrity against potential fraud or inconsistent measurements common in trade.
for everyone who passed over to those counted:
- passed over (הָעֹבֵ֣ר, ha‘ōḇēr): Refers to those who "passed over" a certain threshold or review during the census. It signifies being registered or numbered.
- counted (הַפְּקֻדִ֑ים, happeqūdim): Those who were specifically enumerated or mustered in the census. This implies an official count undertaken by divine command (Ex 30:11-16; Num 1).
- Significance: Identifies the precise demographic from whom this atonement money was collected – a registered community of responsible adults.
from twenty years old and upward:
- mibbēn ‘eśrîm shana wam’alah (מִבֶּן֩ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה): This age specified responsibility, usually for military service or communal duties.
- Significance: Establishes the threshold for adult male responsibility within the community for communal and sacred duties, aligning with eligibility for military service or public office. It implies a readiness for accountability and participation.
for six hundred three thousand, five hundred and fifty men:
- six hundred three thousand, five hundred and fifty (שֵׁשׁ־מֵא֣וֹת אֶ֗לֶף וּשְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֛ים וַחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים, shesh-me'ot 'elef ushloshet 'alaphim vakhames me'ot vakhamishim): This precise figure is confirmed in the census records (Num 1:46).
- Significance: Underscores the immense population of Israel during the Exodus and the substantial collective effort involved. The very specific number highlights meticulous accounting and fulfillment of God's command regarding the census and the collection. This vast sum of silver, collected via equal small contributions, points to the power of unity and collective obedience in fulfilling divine purpose.
Exodus 36 26 Bonus section
The precise weight of the sanctuary shekel (often considered about 11.4 grams or 0.4 oz) ensured a fair and unalterable standard, distinct from the varying commercial shekels of the time. This highlighted divine honesty and strictness in matters concerning God's house. The fact that the substantial amount of silver collected (Ex 38:25-28 indicates 100 talents and 1,775 shekels of silver, about 3,790 kg or over 8,000 pounds) was primarily used for the sockets (the structural bases) of the Tabernacle walls and pillars is profoundly symbolic. It emphasizes that even the most substantial communal contributions were to provide the underlying stability and foundation for God's dwelling, a silent testimony to the collective's shared responsibility in upholding God's presence. This also subtly stands in contrast to common ancient Near Eastern practices where temple funds might be collected arbitrarily or even exploited by rulers, showing God's just and transparent system for His sanctuary. The silver contribution as a "ransom for their lives" underscores the value God places on human life and the spiritual truth that redemption, though here mediated through silver, points to a deeper requirement for atonement, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
Exodus 36 26 Commentary
Exodus 36:26 provides the financial summary of a specific, non-negotiable contribution towards the Tabernacle's construction, rooted in the principle of atonement and communal responsibility. Unlike the previous freewill offerings (Ex 35), this "half-shekel" payment was mandatory for every adult male. The divine instruction specified not only the amount—a precise "beka," or half "sanctuary shekel"—but also the demographic: all those counted, twenty years and older. This equality in contribution underscores that every individual, regardless of wealth or social standing, stood equally in need of atonement before God and had an equal share in establishing His presence among them. The colossal sum of silver gathered from over 600,000 men served primarily for the silver sockets forming the very foundation of the Tabernacle's walls. This implies a foundational link between individual ransom, communal contribution, and the stable dwelling of God among His people. It speaks to a divine economy where small, consistent obedience from many individuals enables a grand collective purpose, illustrating how individual accountability and unified effort build the kingdom of God, then represented by His earthly sanctuary. This commitment highlights their participation and identification with the sacred purpose of the Tabernacle.