Moses Weighs the Ransom for a Soul After the Golden Calf

Another interpretation: WHEN YOU TAKE A CENSUS [of the Children of Israel, each shall give a ransom for his life] (Exodus 30:12), SO THAT NO PLAGUE COME UPON THEM. When Moses heard this, he was afraid, and he said, "Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life" (Job 2:4). Rabbi Judah son of Rabbi Ila'i said: Moses said, "We have already found that the ransom of a person's life is a talent of silver, as it is stated, 'Then your life shall be for his life, or you shall weigh out a talent [of silver]' (I Kings 20:39)." Rabbi Yochanan said: From whom did he learn it? From the one who brings forth an evil name, as it is stated, "And they shall fine him a hundred pieces of silver" (Deuteronomy 22:19). And we brought forth an evil name against the Holy One and said, "These are your gods, O Israel" (Exodus 32:4); each and every one of us must give a hundred pieces of silver. Resh Lakish said: Moses learned it from the rapist. It is written concerning the rapist, "Then the man who lay with her shall give [to the young woman's father fifty pieces of silver]" (Deuteronomy 22:29); and we have raped the word, for it is written, "You shall have no [other gods]" (Exodus 20:3), yet we committed idolatry; each and every one of us must give fifty pieces of silver. Rabbi Judah bar Simon said: Moses learned it from the goring ox, as it is stated, "If the ox gores a male slave [or a female slave, he shall give thirty shekels of silver to his master]" (Exodus 21:32); and we exchanged His glory for an ox, as it is stated, "And they exchanged their glory for the likeness of an ox" (Psalms 106:20); each and every one of us must give thirty shekels. The Holy One knew what was in Moses' heart. He said to him, "By your life, neither a talent of silver, nor a hundred pieces of silver, nor fifty shekels of silver, nor thirty shekels, but THIS they shall give" (Exodus 30:13).