In this video listen to Exodus 30 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.

In Exodus 30 the table of incense is described with its requirements. It was located in the holy place and covered in gold.

Next in this chapter weirdly it describes the process of taking a census of the fighting men. It seems very out of place, but that is convenient as it puts to death the idea of a later redaction which would certainly not have happened here.

When a nation wanted to take a census of its fighting men, it had to redeem them, and every man had to pay a half shekel to the temple. This was the poll tax. This was to “buy them back” and remind everyone that they belong to God. A count is only undertaken in situations of ownership, and this reminded everyone that they belonged to God.

It described the consequen ...