Ransom Shekels - Exodus 30:11-16

30:11-16 - When I first read starting in verse 11, I thought that it was just talking about a money sacrifice that is being required, but it seems like it's more of a census thing as well. The Lord is requiring half a shekel to be paid by, what seems like, every male over the age of 20, regardless of how rich or poor they are, as “a ransom for his soul unto the Lord.” This is another way to teach the people that the Messiah that they are going to be waiting for is going to be the ransom for them, in the eternal sense. TB points out that that this is a one tie occurrence and that the money collected “would be used to form the sockets for the posts of the sanctuary.” So like they are going to be melted down and used as part of the tabernacle structure.