All the gold that was spent in the work of the sanctuary, and that was offered in gifts, was nine and twenty talents, and seven hundred and thirty sicles according to the standard of the sanctuary.

all the gold.

730 shekels of gold, will be

198,347l.

12s.

6d. The value of the silver contributed by

603,550 Israelites, at half a shekel, or

1s.6d. per man, will amount of

45,266l.5s. The value of the

70 talents,

2400 shekels of brass, will be

513l.17s. The gold weighed

4245 pounds, the silver,

14,603 pounds, and the brass,

10,277 pounds, troy weight. The total value of all the gold, silver, and brass, will consequently amount to

244,127l.14s.6d.; and the total weight of these three metals will amount to

29,124 pounds troy, which reduced to avoirdupois weight, is equal to fourteen tons,

226 pounds!--It may, perhaps, seem difficult to imagine how the Israelites should be possessed of so much wealth in the desert; but it should be remembered, that their ancestors were opulent men before they came into Egypt; that they were further enriched by the spoils of the Egyptians and Amalekites; and that it is probable, they traded with the neighbouring nations who bordered on the wilderness. There appear to be three reasons why so much riches should have been employed in the construction of the tabernacle. To impress the people's minds with the glory and dignity of the Divine Majesty, and the importance of his service. To take out of their hands the occasion of covetousness. To prevent pride and vain glory, by leading them to give up to the divine service even the ornaments of their persons.

1 Chronicles 22:14-16 Behold I in my poverty have prepared the charges of the house of the Lord, of gold a hundred thousand talents, and of silver a million of talents: but of brass, and of iron there is no weight, for the abundance surpasseth all account: timber also and stones I have prepared for all the charges. . . .

1 Chronicles 29:2-7 And I with all my ability have prepared the expenses for the house of my God. Gold for vessels of gold, and silver for vessels of silver, brass for things of brass, iron for things of iron, wood for things of wood: and onyx stones, and stones like alabaster, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble of Paros in great abundance. . . .

Haggai 2:8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.

offering

Exodus 25:2 Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring firstfruits to me: of every man that offereth of his own accord, you shall take them.

Exodus 29:24 And thou shalt put all upon the hands of Aaron and of his sons, and shalt sanctify them elevating before the Lord.

Exodus 35:22 Both men and women gave bracelets and earrings, rings and tablets: every vessel of gold was set aside to be offered to the Lord.

the shekel

Exodus 30:13,14,24 And this shall every one give that passeth at the naming, half a sicle according to the standard of the temple. A sicle hath twenty obols. Half a sicle shall be offered to the Lord. . . .

Leviticus 5:15 If any one shall sin through mistake, transgressing the ceremonies in those things that are sacrificed to the Lord, he shall offer for his offence a ram without blemish out of the flocks, that may be bought for two sicles, according to the weight of the sanctuary.

Leviticus 27:3,25 If it be a man from twenty years old unto sixty years old, he shall give fifty sicles of silver, after the weight of the sanctuary: . . .

Numbers 3:47 Thou shalt take five sicles for every bead, according to the weight of the sanctuary. A sicle hath twenty obols.

Numbers 18:16 And the redemption of it shall be after one month, for five sicles of silver, by the weight of the sanctuary. A sicle hath twenty obols.