They shall give this, everyone who passes over to those who are counted, half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs); half a shekel for an offering to the LORD.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 13. Half a sicle. A sicle or shekel of silver, (which was also called a stater) according to the standard or weight of the sanctuary, which was the most just and exact, was half an ounce of silver; that is, about half a crown of English money. The obol, or gerah, was about three halfpence. Challoner.—A priest kept the weights and measures. 1 Chronicles 23:29. The Egyptians and Romans took the like precaution to prevent any fraud; and Justinian required that such things should be kept in churches. Some have supposed, that the royal or common sicle was less than that of the sanctuary. But Moses admits of no distinction. Leviticus 27:25. Ezekiel 14:12. Perhaps the weights of the Egyptians, and so forth might differ from this, which Moses therefore particularizes so well. Calmet.—Arbuthnot makes the weight of the sicle equal to 9 dwt. 2,57 gr. English Troy weight; and he values that of silver at 2s. 3,375d. sterling. Bible.
A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces.
a gerah is about 0.5 grams or about 7.7 grains