Definition: And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Exodus 30:16. It's a really important and slightly complex passage about how the Israelites were supposed to handle money and use it for a special purpose. Here’s a simplified explanation: Basically, God is telling the Israelites that they need to set aside some money to help maintain and honor the Tabernacle – which was their physical home and place of worship. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel…” - This means they needed to collect a certain amount of money from the Israelites, likely as a contribution towards the upkeep and maintenance of the Tabernacle. “Atonement” refers to a way for people to make amends for their sins or wrongdoing. "...and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation…” - This is crucial! The money was specifically meant to be used to support the Tabernacle – a huge, portable temple built by God for his people in Egypt. It wasn’t just about building it; it was about showing their devotion and offering sacrifices. “To make an atonement for your souls.” - This is the heart of the verse. “Atonement” means to make amends for sins. God wanted to show that the Israelites were sorry for their mistakes and that they were committed to following his laws. By giving this money, they were symbolically making a promise to remember their sins and to strive to be better people. So, what’s the big picture? This verse is about God's relationship with his people – he wants to keep them safe and show his love through them. It emphasizes that the Israelites needed to be careful with their resources (money) and use it for a purpose that was bigger than just themselves - it was for honoring God and demonstrating their commitment to following his laws. Important Note: This is a complex passage, and there’s some debate about exactly what this atonement money was used for. But the core idea is that it was a way for the Israelites to show their devotion and seek forgiveness from God. --- Would you like me to explain any of these concepts further? For example, I could: Discuss the significance of the Tabernacle Explain the concept of atonement in more detail Connect this verse to other stories in the Bible