(25) The silver . . . was an hundred talents.--The silver talent contained 3,000 shekels, as all allow, and as appears from the present passage. If the "shekel of the sanctuary" weighed, as is generally supposed, about 220 grains troy, the value of the silver contributed would have been 40,000, or a little under. It was contributed by "them that were numbered of the congregation," each of whom paid a bekah, or half a shekel. (See above, Exodus 30:12-16.)
Verse 25. - The silver. The silver seems to have amounted to about four times the weight of the gold; but the value of it was very much less, not exceeding £40,000 of our money (Cook). It may seem surprising that this should have been so; but there are grounds for believing that both in Africa and in Asia gold was more plentiful than silver in the early ages. And it is certainly much more suitable for ornaments. Of them that were numbered. See above, Exodus 30:12-16. The silver for the sanctuary was collected by a compulsory tax, of the nature of a church-rate. This produced the amount here given, No estimate is made of the weight of the silver freewill offerings (Exodus 35:24), nor is any account given of their application. It has been suggested that they were returned to the donors as superfluous, which is certainly possible,
38:21-31 The foundation of massy pieces of silver showed the solidity and purity of the truth upon which the church is founded. Let us regard the Lord Jesus Christ while reading of the furniture of the tabernacle. While looking at the altar of burnt-offering, let us see Jesus. In him, his righteousness, and salvation, is a full and sufficient offering for sin. In the laver of regeneration, by his Holy Spirit, let our souls be washed, and they shall be clean; and as the people offered willingly, so may our souls be made willing. Let us be ready to part with any thing, and count all but loss to win Christ.
And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation,.... This was not the offering of silver, Exodus 35:24 but what was collected in numbering the people, where everyone of twenty years old and upwards paid half a shekel, Exodus 30:12 the sum
was an hundred talents, one thousand seven hundred and threescore fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; which, according to Brerewood (q), make of our money, 37,721 pounds, seventeen shillings, and six pence; according to Waserus (r), the whole amounted to 150,887 dollars and a half: and so, according to Lundius (s), the sum is so many imperials, and forty five creutzers or cross pennies.
(q) Ut supra. (De Ponder & pretiis Vet. Num. c. 4, 5.) (r) Ut supra. (De Antiqu. Numis. l. 2. c. 18.) (s) Apud Scheuchzer. Physic. Sacr. vol. 2. p. 253.
was an hundred talents, one thousand seven hundred and threescore fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; which, according to Brerewood (q), make of our money, 37,721 pounds, seventeen shillings, and six pence; according to Waserus (r), the whole amounted to 150,887 dollars and a half: and so, according to Lundius (s), the sum is so many imperials, and forty five creutzers or cross pennies.
(q) Ut supra. (De Ponder & pretiis Vet. Num. c. 4, 5.) (r) Ut supra. (De Antiqu. Numis. l. 2. c. 18.) (s) Apud Scheuchzer. Physic. Sacr. vol. 2. p. 253.