Did Moses set up a racket?

Census and incense in Exodus

Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as we discover new insights and new perspectives from a very old book.

I’m reading Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Exodus 30

I don’t know the meaning of burning incense; I never really have in any religious tradition, and it isn’t explained why the LORD wants it. I do wonder if there are drug properties to the concoction the LORD devised.

I was unaware when writing about Exodus 29 that I was anticipating this chapter, where the LORD requires an “offering” (ha!) of half a shekel from every adult male to pay for all the stuff at the tent of meeting.

By going so far as to have a census registration to make sure everyone pays their tax (for what else can it be called?), this all might look suspicious. Moses’s family is going to get fancy clothes, free food (from animal, grain, and drink offerings) and now revenue for their tent meeting. Who’s pocketing the money, aside from Moses, Aaron, and his boys?

Exodus 31

A few verses are committed to the guys who will actually make all the cool stuff (and weird stuff) that the LORD has commanded…