“From the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the silver: One thousand and three hundred and sixty-five shekels, in the sacred shekels” (Numbers 3:50) “From the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the silver: One thousand and three hundred and sixty-five shekels, in the sacred shekels” – it teaches that the sacred shekels are not like the ordinary shekels. Ordinary shekels, if one weighs each one individually, then weighs them all as one, he will either have a surplus or a shortage.14They are not exact.
The difference from the standard weight may be too small to be noticed when weighing the coins individually, but it becomes evident when weighing them together. However, sacred shekels are precise; if one weighs each one individually and then weighs them all as one, he will have neither a surplus nor a shortage. “Moses gave the silver of the redemption to Aaron and to his sons, according to the directive of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses” (Numbers 3:51).
“Moses gave the silver of the redemption…[according to the directive of the Lord]” – it teaches that he did not give it to them until it was stated to him from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He: Give it to them. “As the Lord commanded Moses” – he gave half to Aaron and half to his sons, just as the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “You shall give the silver to Aaron and his sons” (Numbers 3:48); Aaron is equivalent to his sons.