What is the significance of the "1,775 shekels" mentioned in Exodus 38:28? Setting the Context • Exodus 38 catalogs the materials used for the tabernacle. • Verse 28 zeroes in on a seemingly small figure: “From the 1,775 shekels he made the hooks for the posts, overlaid their tops, and fashioned bands for them.” What Exactly Was the Amount? • 1,775 shekels ≈ 21 lbs / 9.5 kg of silver (a sanctuary shekel weighed about 11 g). • It is the remainder after 100 talents (300,000 shekels) were allotted for the heavier silver sockets (Exodus 38:25–27). Where Did the 1,775 Shekels Come From? • Collected through the census “atonement money”: “Each one who crosses over… is to pay half a shekel” (Exodus 30:13–15). • Census total: 603,550 men (Exodus 38:26). – 603,550 × ½ shekel = 301,775 shekels. – 300,000 shekels (100 talents) used for sockets. – Remaining 1,775 shekels documented in v. 28. • The exact math shows every single man’s half-shekel was recorded—no one overlooked, no silver unaccounted for. How Was It Used? • Hooks (for hanging the courtyard curtains). • Silver bands and caps topping each post (Exodus 38:17, 19, 28). • These visible fittings “crowned” the pillars, tying the courtyard fabric together. Symbolic Layers in the Silver • Redemption: the half-shekel was “ransom” money (Exodus 30:16); silver often typifies redemption (Numbers 18:16; 1 Peter 1:18-19). • Unity and equality: every Israelite paid the same amount—rich or poor (Exodus 30:15). That uniform gift now literally bound the courtyard together. • Divine precision: God records the small remainder, underscoring His concern for detail (Luke 12:7). Practical Takeaways • God values every contribution, no matter how minor it looks. The leftover silver still received a distinct purpose. • Accurate stewardship honors the Lord; Moses could give a full account (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:20-21). • Visible testimony: the shining silver hooks reminded worshipers that entrance and service were secured by redemption, not personal merit. |
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