There is evidently some similar principle at work in Exod. 30: In this case the

numbering is of all who are twenty years old and upward, and the ransom money is

appointed for the service of the tabernacle as a memorial (30: 16). The number of those

who thus paid their half shekel was 603,550 men, and of the total sum 100 talents were

used to make the sockets of silver on which the tabernacle rested, while some, at least, of

the remainder were used in the making of the silver hooks, chapiters and fillets that were

No distinction was made between rich and poor in the matter of this atonement

money: "The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less" (Exod. 30: 15).

Whilst we have a recognition of "each one's several ability" in the distribution of the

talents, one receiving five, another two, and another only one, whilst reward for service

will be in some measure proportionate to faithfulness, yet, when we deal with such

matters as redemption and atonement, "there is no difference", all alike are redeemed by

the blood of the Lamb, all alike pay their half shekel, neither more nor less.

It is a blessed thought, that every time an Israelite looked at his own firstborn son, he

had a "memorial" of substitution before him.  Every time he looked at a Levite

accomplishing the service of God, every firstborn male could say: There is one who hath

taken my place. Every time he considered the foundations upon which the tabernacle

rested, they spoke of his atonement.

What of the spiritual realities of which these are but shadows? Does our conception of

service, worship and the present position of Christ at the right hand of God bring vividly

to our mind and heart the consciousness that we are not our own; that we are bought with

a price?

There is one occasion in the history of David, in which "numbering", "plague" and

"ransom" figure, that should be considered as a contrast to this ordinance. David was

moved to number Israel and Judah. Even Joab realized that the spirit that prompted this

numbering was not good (II Sam. 24: 3), and David subsequently confessed that he had

sinned greatly (verse 10). The result was judgment, in the form either of famine, defeat,

or pestilence, and the sequel was the erection of an altar and the offering of sacrifice.

The words of Exod. 30: 12 come to mind as one reads this tragic chapter:--

The numbering of Israel by David was evidently done either in pride, or in unbelief of

the power of God.  The grace of God that chose Israel for His own ignored their

numerical inferiority as compared with other nations (Deut. 7: 7, 8). While Israel

remained true, "one should chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight"

(Deut. 32: 30), but when they were unfaithful "a small company of men" was

sufficient to conquer "a very great host", for the Lord would not be with them.