Difference between revisions of "Half Shekels – For Census or Tabernacle/2"
>Import script (Original Author: Neima Novetsky, Rabbi Hillel Novetsky) |
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<point><b>"כִּי תִשָּׂא"</b> – Rashi interprets this phrase to refer to anytime in which the people are counted.</point> | <point><b>"כִּי תִשָּׂא"</b> – Rashi interprets this phrase to refer to anytime in which the people are counted.</point> | ||
<point><b>Why now?</b> According to Rashi, these verses are out of chronological order and were told to Moshe only after the sin of the Golden Calf.<fn>See Chronology of Shemot 19-34.</fn> He explains that a census was required at this juncture since many people had just died as a punishment for their sin of idolatry.<fn>Rashi further states that the total from this census is recorded in Shemot 38:26, and it matches the total population for the census in Bemidbar 1. Since Rashi maintains that these were two different censuses, he attempts (in 30:16) to explain the coincidence of the identical totals as well as the need for both. For elaboration and analysis, see Censuses in the Wilderness.</fn> Thus, Rashi emphasizes that the primary motivation for the donation of the initial half-shekels was the census, and not the collection for the building of the Mishkan (which was taking place simultaneously).</point> | <point><b>Why now?</b> According to Rashi, these verses are out of chronological order and were told to Moshe only after the sin of the Golden Calf.<fn>See Chronology of Shemot 19-34.</fn> He explains that a census was required at this juncture since many people had just died as a punishment for their sin of idolatry.<fn>Rashi further states that the total from this census is recorded in Shemot 38:26, and it matches the total population for the census in Bemidbar 1. Since Rashi maintains that these were two different censuses, he attempts (in 30:16) to explain the coincidence of the identical totals as well as the need for both. For elaboration and analysis, see Censuses in the Wilderness.</fn> Thus, Rashi emphasizes that the primary motivation for the donation of the initial half-shekels was the census, and not the collection for the building of the Mishkan (which was taking place simultaneously).</point> | ||
− | <point><b>"וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בָהֶם נֶגֶף בִּפְקֹד אֹתָם"</b> – Rashi explains that a simple headcount without using shekalim might bring on an "עין הרע" ("evil eye"),<fn>Cf. Bavli Bava Mezia 42a cited by | + | <point><b>"וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בָהֶם נֶגֶף בִּפְקֹד אֹתָם"</b> – Rashi explains that a simple headcount without using shekalim might bring on an "עין הרע" ("evil eye"),<fn>Cf. Bavli Bava Mezia 42a cited by R"Y Bekhor Shor and others.</fn> and this could result in a plague. Rashi views the "evil eye" as real, and not just a figment of the people's imagination.<fn>Cf. Shadal above.</fn></point> |
<point><b>Censuses in Bemidbar 1 and 26</b> – Rashi states that the census in the second year in the wilderness was also performed using shekalim.<fn>He would presumably hold the same position regarding the count in the fortieth year.</fn></point> | <point><b>Censuses in Bemidbar 1 and 26</b> – Rashi states that the census in the second year in the wilderness was also performed using shekalim.<fn>He would presumably hold the same position regarding the count in the fortieth year.</fn></point> | ||
<point><b>Shaul's censuses</b> – According to Rashi, following <multilink><aht source="BavliYoma22b">Bavli Yoma</aht><aht source="BavliYoma22b">Yoma 22b</aht><aht parshan="Talmud Bavli">About the Bavli</aht></multilink>,<fn>See also <multilink><aht source="TanchumaKiTisa9">Tanchuma</aht><aht source="TanchumaKiTisa9">Ki Tisa 9</aht><aht parshan="Tanchuma">About the Tanchuma</aht></multilink>.</fn> Shaul's counts utilized objects, rather than simply counting the people themselves. He reads "בְּבָזֶק" and "בַּטְּלָאִים", as the names of those items.</point> | <point><b>Shaul's censuses</b> – According to Rashi, following <multilink><aht source="BavliYoma22b">Bavli Yoma</aht><aht source="BavliYoma22b">Yoma 22b</aht><aht parshan="Talmud Bavli">About the Bavli</aht></multilink>,<fn>See also <multilink><aht source="TanchumaKiTisa9">Tanchuma</aht><aht source="TanchumaKiTisa9">Ki Tisa 9</aht><aht parshan="Tanchuma">About the Tanchuma</aht></multilink>.</fn> Shaul's counts utilized objects, rather than simply counting the people themselves. He reads "בְּבָזֶק" and "בַּטְּלָאִים", as the names of those items.</point> | ||
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<mekorot> | <mekorot> | ||
<multilink><aht source="Josephus3-8-2">Josephus</aht><aht source="Josephus3-8-2">Antiquities 3:8:2 (194-196)</aht><aht source="Josephus18-9-1">Antiquities 18:9:1 (312)</aht><aht parshan="Josephus" /></multilink>, | <multilink><aht source="Josephus3-8-2">Josephus</aht><aht source="Josephus3-8-2">Antiquities 3:8:2 (194-196)</aht><aht source="Josephus18-9-1">Antiquities 18:9:1 (312)</aht><aht parshan="Josephus" /></multilink>, | ||
− | <multilink><aht source="RashbamShemot30-12">Rashbam</aht><aht source="RashbamShemot30-12">Shemot 30:12</aht><aht source="RashbamShemot35-1">Shemot 35:1</aht><aht source="RashbamBemidbar31-49">Bemidbar 31:49</aht><aht parshan="Rashbam">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</aht></multilink>, | + | <multilink><aht source="RashbamShemot30-12">Rashbam</aht><aht source="RashbamShemot30-12">Shemot 30:12,16</aht><aht source="RashbamShemot35-1">Shemot 35:1</aht><aht source="RashbamBemidbar31-49">Bemidbar 31:49</aht><aht parshan="Rashbam">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</aht></multilink>, |
<multilink><aht source="AbarbanelShemot30Q">Abarbanel</aht><aht source="AbarbanelShemot30Q">Shemot 30 Questions 1-4</aht><aht source="AbarbanelShemot30-11">Abarbanel Shemot 30:11-14</aht><aht source="AbarbanelShemot30-15">Abarbanel Shemot 30:15</aht><aht source="AbarbanelBemidbar1-2">Abarbanel Bemidbar 1:2</aht><aht parshan="Abarbanel">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</aht></multilink>,<fn>Cf. <multilink><aht source="Akeidat52Q">Akeidat Yitzchak</aht><aht source="Akeidat52Q">Shemot #52 Questions 1-4</aht><aht parshan="Akeidat Yitzchak">About R. Yitzchak Arama</aht></multilink>.</fn> | <multilink><aht source="AbarbanelShemot30Q">Abarbanel</aht><aht source="AbarbanelShemot30Q">Shemot 30 Questions 1-4</aht><aht source="AbarbanelShemot30-11">Abarbanel Shemot 30:11-14</aht><aht source="AbarbanelShemot30-15">Abarbanel Shemot 30:15</aht><aht source="AbarbanelBemidbar1-2">Abarbanel Bemidbar 1:2</aht><aht parshan="Abarbanel">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</aht></multilink>,<fn>Cf. <multilink><aht source="Akeidat52Q">Akeidat Yitzchak</aht><aht source="Akeidat52Q">Shemot #52 Questions 1-4</aht><aht parshan="Akeidat Yitzchak">About R. Yitzchak Arama</aht></multilink>.</fn> | ||
<multilink><aht source="HoilBemidbar1-2">Hoil Moshe</aht><aht source="HoilBemidbar1-2">Bemidbar 1:2</aht><aht parshan="Hoil Moshe">About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi</aht></multilink> | <multilink><aht source="HoilBemidbar1-2">Hoil Moshe</aht><aht source="HoilBemidbar1-2">Bemidbar 1:2</aht><aht parshan="Hoil Moshe">About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi</aht></multilink> | ||
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</point> | </point> | ||
<point><b>"וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בָהֶם נֶגֶף בִּפְקֹד אֹתָם"</b> – Hoil Moshe views the shekalim as atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf, and might suggest that without them, the nation would have deserved further punishment. Abarbanel asserts that a direct headcount might lead to plague due to the "evil eye".<fn>Such a fear exists only in cases where a count is not commanded by Hashem.</fn></point> | <point><b>"וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בָהֶם נֶגֶף בִּפְקֹד אֹתָם"</b> – Hoil Moshe views the shekalim as atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf, and might suggest that without them, the nation would have deserved further punishment. Abarbanel asserts that a direct headcount might lead to plague due to the "evil eye".<fn>Such a fear exists only in cases where a count is not commanded by Hashem.</fn></point> | ||
− | <point><b>"עֲבֹדַת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד"</b> – According to | + | <point><b>"עֲבֹדַת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד"</b> – According to Rashbam, this refers to the initial building of the Tabernacle.</point> |
<point><b>Censuses in Bemidbar 1 and 26</b> – No shekel donations are mentioned since regular censuses do not require such a contribution.<fn>Abarbanel asserts that in censuses mandated by Hashem there is no fear of an "evil eye" since if Hashem commands the count, he will surely protect the nation.</fn></point> | <point><b>Censuses in Bemidbar 1 and 26</b> – No shekel donations are mentioned since regular censuses do not require such a contribution.<fn>Abarbanel asserts that in censuses mandated by Hashem there is no fear of an "evil eye" since if Hashem commands the count, he will surely protect the nation.</fn></point> | ||
<point><b>Shaul's censuses</b> – Shaul did not count via shekalim since there is no obligation to do so. Hoil Moshe would likely explain both בָזֶק and טְּלָאִים as place names. According to Abarbanel, in contrast, Shaul feared the "evil eye" and, of his own volition, used a ransom in the form of lambs ("טְּלָאִים") or small stones ("בָזֶק")‎.<fn>He was able to use whatever he wanted since there is no mandatory ransom that must take the form of shekalim.</fn></point> | <point><b>Shaul's censuses</b> – Shaul did not count via shekalim since there is no obligation to do so. Hoil Moshe would likely explain both בָזֶק and טְּלָאִים as place names. According to Abarbanel, in contrast, Shaul feared the "evil eye" and, of his own volition, used a ransom in the form of lambs ("טְּלָאִים") or small stones ("בָזֶק")‎.<fn>He was able to use whatever he wanted since there is no mandatory ransom that must take the form of shekalim.</fn></point> | ||
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<p>Both the need for a census and the requirement to support the Mishkan/Mikdash are involved in the obligation to give the half-shekels. Commentators discuss whether both factors must be present, or whether each factor suffices on its own.</p> | <p>Both the need for a census and the requirement to support the Mishkan/Mikdash are involved in the obligation to give the half-shekels. Commentators discuss whether both factors must be present, or whether each factor suffices on its own.</p> | ||
<mekorot> | <mekorot> | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="RadakShemuelII24-1">Radak</aht><aht source="RadakShemuelII24-1">Shemuel II 24:1</aht><aht source="RadakMelakhimII12-5">Melakhim II 12:5</aht><aht source="RadakDivreiHaYamimII24-6">Divrei HaYamim II 24:6</aht><aht parshan="Radak">About R. David Kimchi</aht></multilink>, | ||
<multilink><aht source="ChizkuniShemot30-16">Chizkuni</aht><aht source="ChizkuniShemot30-12">Shemot 30:12</aht><aht source="ChizkuniShemot30-16">Shemot 30:16</aht><aht parshan="Chizkuni">About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach</aht></multilink>, | <multilink><aht source="ChizkuniShemot30-16">Chizkuni</aht><aht source="ChizkuniShemot30-12">Shemot 30:12</aht><aht source="ChizkuniShemot30-16">Shemot 30:16</aht><aht parshan="Chizkuni">About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach</aht></multilink>, | ||
<multilink><aht source="RambanShemot30-12">Ramban</aht><aht source="RambanShemot30-12">Shemot 30:12</aht><aht source="RambanBemidbar1-3">Bemidbar 1:3</aht><aht source="RambanBemidbar16-21">Bemidbar 16:21</aht><aht parshan="Ramban">About R. Moshe Nachmanides</aht></multilink>, | <multilink><aht source="RambanShemot30-12">Ramban</aht><aht source="RambanShemot30-12">Shemot 30:12</aht><aht source="RambanBemidbar1-3">Bemidbar 1:3</aht><aht source="RambanBemidbar16-21">Bemidbar 16:21</aht><aht parshan="Ramban">About R. Moshe Nachmanides</aht></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="RalbagShemot30-12">Ralbag</aht><aht source="RalbagShemot30-12">Shemot 30:12</aht><aht source="RalbagShemot30T1">Shemot 30, Toalot 1-2</aht><aht source="RalbagBemidbar1-1">Bemidbar 1:1-3</aht><aht source="RalbagShemuelII24-1">Shemuel II 24:1</aht><aht source="RalbagMelakhimII12-5">Melakhim II 12:5</aht><aht source="RalbagNechemyah10-33">Nechemyah 10:33</aht><aht source="RalbagDivreiHaYamimII24-5">Divrei HaYamim II 24:5-7</aht><aht source="RalbagDivreiHaYamimII24T13">Divrei HaYamim II 24, Toelet 13</aht><aht parshan="Ralbag">About R. Levi b. Gershon</aht></multilink>, | ||
<multilink><aht source="MinchahShemot30-13">Minchah Belulah</aht><aht source="MinchahShemot30-13">Shemot 30:13</aht><aht parshan="Minchah Belulah">About R. Avraham Rappo of Porto</aht></multilink>, | <multilink><aht source="MinchahShemot30-13">Minchah Belulah</aht><aht source="MinchahShemot30-13">Shemot 30:13</aht><aht parshan="Minchah Belulah">About R. Avraham Rappo of Porto</aht></multilink>, | ||
<multilink><aht source="GraShemot30-12">Vilna Gaon (GR"A)</aht><aht source="GraShemot30-12">Aderet Eliyahu Shemot 30:12</aht><aht parshan="Vilna Gaon">About R. Eliyahu Kramer</aht></multilink>, | <multilink><aht source="GraShemot30-12">Vilna Gaon (GR"A)</aht><aht source="GraShemot30-12">Aderet Eliyahu Shemot 30:12</aht><aht parshan="Vilna Gaon">About R. Eliyahu Kramer</aht></multilink>, | ||
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− | <multilink><aht source=" | + | <multilink><aht source="RYBSShemot30-12">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</aht><aht source="RYBSShemot30-12">Shemot 30:12</aht><aht source="RYBSShemot38-25">Shemot 38:25</aht><aht source="RYBSBemidbar1-1">Bemidbar 1:1</aht><aht source="RYBSBemidbar31-49">Bemidbar 31:49</aht><aht parshan="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" /></multilink>, |
+ | <multilink><aht source="RMosheKimchiNechemyah10-33">R. Moshe Kimchi</aht><aht source="RMosheKimchiNechemyah10-33">Nechemyah 10:33</aht><aht parshan="R. Yeshayah MiTrani">About R. Moshe Kimchi</aht></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="RidShemuelII24-10">Rid</aht><aht source="RidShemuelII24-10">Shemuel II 24:10</aht><aht source="RidNechemyah10-33">Nechemyah 10:33</aht><aht parshan="R. Yeshayah MiTrani" /></multilink>, | ||
<multilink><aht source="KeliYakarBemidbar1-2">Keli Yakar</aht><aht source="KeliYakarBemidbar1-2">Bemidbar 1:2</aht><aht parshan="Keli Yakar">About R. Shelomo Lunshitz</aht></multilink> | <multilink><aht source="KeliYakarBemidbar1-2">Keli Yakar</aht><aht source="KeliYakarBemidbar1-2">Bemidbar 1:2</aht><aht parshan="Keli Yakar">About R. Shelomo Lunshitz</aht></multilink> | ||
<multilink><aht source="HaKetavShemot30-12">HaKetav VeHaKabbalah</aht><aht source="HaKetavShemot30-12">Shemot 30:12</aht><aht parshan="HaKetav VeHaKabbalah">About R"Y Mecklenburg</aht></multilink>, | <multilink><aht source="HaKetavShemot30-12">HaKetav VeHaKabbalah</aht><aht source="HaKetavShemot30-12">Shemot 30:12</aht><aht parshan="HaKetav VeHaKabbalah">About R"Y Mecklenburg</aht></multilink>, |
Version as of 14:00, 17 February 2014
Half Shekels – For Census or Tabernacle?
Exegetical Approaches
Overview
Commentators disagree over the circumstances which mandate the donations detailed in Shemot 30:12-16. One group of commentators explain that the census is the determining factor. Within this option, Shadal maintains that half-shekels were given only in the very first census in the wilderness, while Rashi asserts that a similar procedure was followed in subsequent countings as well.
A second category of exegetes argues that support of the Mishkan or Mikdash is the main purpose, and that there is no need to give during a census. This view also divides, with Rashbam positing that the verses describe a one-off contribution to build the Mishkan, and R. Saadia claiming that the Torah is speaking of an annual obligation to support Hashem's Sanctuary. Finally, some commentators suggest that both a census and the Mishkan play a role, with Chizkuni requiring a combination of both a census and a capital campaign to create an obligation to donate, and Ramban concluding that each factor alone warrants a collection.
Census Focused
Shemot 30:12-16 commands Moshe to conduct a census using shekalim, rather than through a simple headcount. While the proceeds are used for the Tabernacle, this is not the main objective, and the Torah is not mandating a regular donation to the Mikdash.
One-time Obligation
These verses were an instruction on only a single occasion in the wilderness to count the nation via the giving of half-shekels. All future censuses, in contrast, do not require a similar donation.
All Future Censuses
These verses constitute an enduring ordinance that all future censuses be performed through the counting of donated items such as half-shekels, rather than via a forbidden headcount.
Mishkan Contributions
The Torah is mandating financial support for the Mikdash, and a census is merely a vehicle through which this is achieved.
One-time Building Fund
The verses in Shemot 30 were an ephemeral command to donate for the construction of the Tabernacle, and this was in effect only during the first year in the wilderness. This obligation does not apply to future generations.
Ongoing Maintenance
These verses are an eternal mitzvah to provide annual support for the Mishkan or Mikdash.
Combination of Factors
Both the need for a census and the requirement to support the Mishkan/Mikdash are involved in the obligation to give the half-shekels. Commentators discuss whether both factors must be present, or whether each factor suffices on its own.
- A periodic obligation – According to Chizkuni, the two commands are connected and relate to only certain periods in history. Any time that there is both a need to count and a need to build a Tabernacle/Temple, one must do so through a half shekel donation.
- Both are ongoing – Ramban asserts that there is both an ongoing obligation to give a half shekel whenever there is a census and a separate annual obligation to contribute shekalim to the Mikdash.
- One and one – According to the GR"A, the command to give some sort of redemptive object when counting is an ongoing obligation for future generations,37 whereas the command to give half shekels for the Tabernacle was a one time command for the generation of the desert.38
- Sin of pride – Ramban40 asserts that David's census did actually involve a collection of shekalim,41 but a plague came nonetheless since David had no purpose in the counting and was thus culpable of a certain hubris.42
- Lost protection – Chizkuni argues that the plague came because the silver from the Tabernacle was no longer around to protect during a census.
- No ransom – According to the GR"A, the plague came because David did not count in the proper way, and did not collect some redemptive object.43