Midrash su Esodo 30:13

R. Jonah of Bozrah and the rabbis disagreed concerning the meaning of this verse. The rabbis maintained that it refers to Aaron. Because of the word this (in the preceding verse) he was humbled, as it is said: And I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf (Exod. 32:24), and because of the word this he was exalted, as is said: This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons (Lev. 6:13). R.Jonah, however, was of the opinion that this verse refers to Israel: With the word this they debased themselves, and with the word this they exalted themselves. With the word this they debased themselves in saying: As for this man Moses (Exod. 32:1), and with the word this they exalted themselves, as it is said: This they shall give (ibid. 30:13). Scripture states elsewhere: Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people (Prov. 14:34). R. Joshua said: Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people is indicated by the fact that when Israel sinned, the nations of the world turned against them and enslaved them.

(Exod. 30:12): WHEN YOU TAKE A CENSUS <…, EACH SHALL GIVE A RANSOM FOR HIS LIFE…,> SO THAT NO PLAGUE COME UPON THEM. When Moses heard this, he was afraid, and said (as Job. 2:4): SKIN FOR SKIN! ALL THAT ONE HAS HE WILL GIVE FOR HIS LIFE.¹⁸Tanh., Exod. 9:11; cf. below, Numb. 2:19. R. Judah b. R. Il'ay said: Moses said: We have already found that a ransom for a person's life is a talent of silver. It is so stated (in I Kings 20:39): IT WILL BE YOUR LIFE FOR HIS LIFE OR YOU WILL PAY A TALENT [OF SILVER]. R. Johanan said: From whom did he learn <about the ransom >? From the one who commits libel. Thus it is stated (concerning the man who commits libel against his virgin bride in Deut. 22:19): AND THEY SHALL FINE HIM A HUNDRED <SHEKELS OF> SILVER. Now we have committed libel against the Holy One¹⁹PR 10:12. and said (of the golden calf in Exod. 32:4): THIS IS YOUR GOD, O ISRAEL. <Therefore,> each and every one of us must give a hundred <shekels> of silver. Resh Laqish said: Moses learned <about the ransom> from <the law concerning > the rapist. It is written (concerning the rapist in Deut. 22:29): THE MAN WHO LAY WITH HER SHALL GIVE [TO THE YOUNG WOMAN'S FATHER FIFTY <SHEKELS OF> SILVER]. Now we have raped the <divine> word. Thus it is written (in Exod. 20:3): YOU SHALL HAVE NO [OTHER GODS] <BESIDES ME>; and we have committed idolatry. <Therefore,> each and every one of us must give fifty < shekels of> silver. R. Judah bar Simon said: Moses learned from <the law concerning> a goring bull, since it is stated (in Exod. 21:32): IF A BULL GORES A MALE [OR FEMALE] SLAVE, [HE SHALL GIVE THIRTY SHEKELS OF SILVER TO THE MASTER]. Now we have exchanged his glory for a bull. It is so stated (in Ps. 106:20): THUS THEY EXCHANGED THEIR GLORY FOR THE IMAGE OF A BULL. Does every one of us have to give thirty shekels? The Holy One knew what was in Moses' heart. He said to him: By your life, <the ransom will be> not a talent of silver, not a hundred < shekels of> silver, not fifty shekels of silver, and not thirty shekels, but (as in Exod. 30:13): <EVERYONE WHO IS ENTERED IN THE RECORDS > SHALL GIVE THIS: <A HALF SHEKEL >.

[(Exod. 30:13:) <EVERYONE WHO IS ENTERED IN THE RECORDS> SHALL GIVE THIS (ZH): <A HALF SHEKEL>.] R. Meir said: The Holy One took something like a coin of fire²⁰Perhaps the word THIS (ZH) in Exod. 30:13 suggested the biblical Aramaic root, ‘ZH (“light a fire,” “heat”), found in Dan. 3:19, 22. For an explicit connection between the two roots, see M. Pss. 68:5. Cf. also PR 10:12. from under the throne of glory and showed it unto Moses.²¹Below, Tanh. (Buber), Numb. 2:19; Tanh., Exod. 9:9 (at the end); ySheq. 1:6 (46b); PRK 2:10; Numb. R. 12:3; M. Pss. 91:1. Then he said to Moses <EVERYONE WHO IS ENTERED (ha'over, rt.: 'BR) IN THE RECORDS > SHALL GIVE THIS. Moses said: Who shall give? The Holy One said to him: Everyone who crossed over (ha'over) in the sea.