Parashat Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35)
Exodus 30 (continued)
30:15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.
2026 Comment: Why does the rich and the poor give an equal amount?
Because this amount of money atones for the soul, and the souls of the rich and poor are equal in value, despite the former making much more money than the latter.
How heavy is half a shekel?
It may be about 7-9 grams, in silver. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekel.)
The value nowadays may be about equal to the value of one to two days of meals in the U.S.
Why is the value so low?
I think this makes the poor easier to afford.
How will this amount be used?
In fact, most of this particular half shekel will be used to make silver bases for setting up the Tent for meeting with G-d (Exodus 38). Each half shekel will be merged together with many others in such use. The true value of an individual human soul is serving its source, the Creator, together with other souls.
30:20 When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:
Comment: Jews still wash hands ritually before praying. See, e.g., https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/655978/jewish/Washing-Hands-Before-Praying-and-Studying.htm
It is possible that this practice stems from this Bible verse.
Exodus 31
31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.
Comment: After giving instructions on building the tent of meeting (in the spatial domain), Gd reminds us about Sabbath, which is the “tent of meeting” in the time domain. Once every seven days, on Sabbath, we rest from mundane works and “meet” with Gd. After the destruction of the temples, the tent of meeting is missing in the spatial domain, but the “tent of meeting” in time still functions, if only we observe the Sabbath.
Exodus 32
32:10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
Comment: Israel worshiped a golden calf, and Gd was angry about this and proposed a possible punishment.
“that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation”: Then what about the promise Gd made with the three forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?
It can still be fulfilled by Moses’ descendants, since Moses is a descendant of the three forefathers. This is based on Rashi’s commentary on Numbers 14:12.
https://www.sefaria.org/Rashi_on_Numbers.14.12?lang=bi
If Moses were selfish, he would have agreed to this proposal, since all the descendants would be called Mosesites instead of Israelites. However, as we see in the later verses, Moses declined. Instead, he prayed fervently for Gd to forgive the Israelites. They are not descendants to Moses, but they are nevertheless his students. Students are essentially descendants in teachings.
32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
2026 Comment: Moses is here praying for forgiveness for the Israelites. What is “thy book which thou hast written” that Moses mentioned to G-d?
I do not know for sure, but it seems that G-d has written a book that has Mose’s name on it.
32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
2026 Comment: Will a name written in G-d’s book remain there forever?
It seems that it could be blotted out, depending on whether the person sinned after being written in it. However, these are literal explanations of these two verses alone. Other bible teachings should be combined before reaching a more definite conclusion.
My own intuition is, being written in G-d’s book (and staying in it) is very important. It can make a big difference in this world and also in the world to come. My name is in a book which records all the Chinese students’ names who passed a special exam to go to the U.S. many years ago. My name was ranked the very last on the list of my year. However, this changed my life. G-d led me to a Chinese Church in the U.S., before the first Christmas after I went abroad, and I started to be interested in the Bible. This sounds very fortuitous, but I suspect that G-d already has written about this long ago, and that He has a great book that writes about all people He chooses. I also think that a name remaining in His book will remain there eternally, when the person using that name has finished his assignments in this world, just like the name of Moses remains to be recorded in the Bibles long after his passing away.
Exodus 33
33:22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
Comment: How can someone “cover thee with … hand while … ” he passes by?
Although here Gd manifests in human features such as with a hand and passes by, In fact Gd is unlimited by any human form.
“put thee in a clift of the rock”: Rock is also often used as a metaphor of Gd’ protection. Moses （Deuteronomy 32:4) and David (Psalm 18: 2) both referred to Gd as the Rock. Here the rock may symbolize Gd’s protection for mortal man from being exposed to the undiluted power of Gd. The New Testament associates the Messiah to a rock (1st Corinthian 10:4).
Exodus 34
34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Comment: This and the next verses proclaim Gd’s 13 attributes of mercy (listing adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteen_Attributes_of_Mercy):
- L-RD: compassion before a person sins;
- L-RD: compassion after a person has sinned;
- Gd: mighty in compassion to give all creatures according to their need;
- רַחוּם Raḥum: merciful, in preventing, “feeling”, and reducing the suffering of humankind;
- וְחַנּוּן VeḤanun: and gracious, in paying our debts that we are incapable of paying ourselves, if we beg Him;
- אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם Erekh appayim: slow to anger, so that sinners have time to learn that they are wrong, and to repent and avoid harsh punishment;
- וְרַב-חֶסֶד VeRav ḥesed: and plenty in kindness;
- וֶאֱמֶת VeEmet: and truth, in keeping His promises;
- נֹצֵר חֶסֶד לָאֲלָפִים Notzer ḥesed laalafim: keeping kindness unto thousands, so that the merits of the forefathers can be beneficial to their descendants who follow their beautiful footsteps;
- נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן Noseh avon: forgiving iniquity (which is willful violation);*
- וָפֶשַׁע VaFeshah: and transgression (which is rebellion / betrayal);*
- וְחַטָּאָה VeḤata’ah: and sin (which is unintentional violation);*
- וְנַקֵּה VeNakeh: and pardoning (for those who repent).
(*See also: https://www.etzion.org.il/en/holidays/studies-repentance/nosei-avon-va-fesha-ve-chata’)
34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Comment: “and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity …” : for those who don’t repent. See, e.g.,
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-13-attributes-of-mercy/