Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day - Daily Torah Study

1How would the moneychangers collect the shekalim? In each and every city, they positioned two chests before them. The bottoms of the chests were wide, and the tops narrow like a shofar, so that the money could be deposited in them, but could not be removed from them easily.אכֵּיצַד כּוֹנְסִין הַשֻּׁלְחָנִין אֶת הַשְּׁקָלִים? בְּכָל מְדִינָה וּמְדִינָה מַנִּיחִין לִפְנֵיהֶם שְׁתֵּי תֵּבוֹת. שׁוּלֵי הַתֵּבָה רְחָבִין מִלְּמַטָּה, וּפִיהָ צָר מִלְמַעְלָה, כְּמִין שׁוֹפָר; כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּשְׁלִיכוּ לְתוֹכָן, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה אֶפְשָׁר לִקַּח מֵהֶן בְּנַחַת.

Why did they have two chests? One to deposit the half-shekalim of the present year, and one to deposit the half-shekalim of the previous year, for the collectors would demand payment from the people who did not give in the previous year.וְלָמָּה עוֹשִׂין שְׁתֵּי תֵּבוֹת? אַחַת שֶׁמַּשְׁלִיכִין בָּהּ שְׁקָלִים שֶׁל שָׁנָה זוֹ, וְהַשְּׁנִיָּה מַנִּיחִין בָּהּ שִׁקְלֵי שָׁנָה שֶׁעָבְרָה, שֶׁגּוֹבִין מִמִּי שֶׁלֹּא שָׁקַל בַּשָּׁנָה שֶׁעָבְרָה.

2In the Temple, there were always thirteen chests, each chest shaped like a shofar. The first chest was for the shekalim of the present year; the second for the shekalim of the previous year; the third was for all those who were obligated to bring an offering of two turtle doves or two common doves,1 one as a burnt offering and one as a sin offering. The funds for these offerings were deposited in this chest. The fourth was for those who were obligated to bring doves as a burnt offering only. They would deposit the funds for these offerings in this chest. The fifth was for those who volunteered to buy wood for the altar; the sixth, for those who donated money to purchase frankincense; the seventh, for those who donated gold for the covering of the ark. The eighth was for the money that remains after purchasing a sin-offering—i.e., a person set aside funds to use to purchase a sin-offering, and money remained after purchasing it. Those funds were deposited in this chest.בוּבַמִּקְדָּשׁ הָיָה לִפְנֵיהֶם תָּמִיד שְׁלוֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה תֵּבוֹת, כָּל תֵּבָה כְּמִין שׁוֹפָר. רִאשׁוֹנָה, לְשִׁקְלֵי שָׁנָה זוֹ; שְׁנִיָּה, לְשִׁקְלֵי שָׁנָה שֶׁעָבְרָה; שְׁלִישִׁית, לְכָל מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ עָלָיו קָרְבַּן שְׁתֵּי תּוֹרִים אוֹ שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי יוֹנָה, אֶחָד עוֹלָה וְאֶחָד חַטָּאת, מַשְׁלִיךְ דְּמֵיהֵן לַתֵּבָה זוֹ; רְבִיעִית, לְכָל מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ עָלָיו עוֹלַת הָעוֹף בִּלְבָד, מַשְׁלִיךְ דָּמֶיהָ לַתֵּבָה זוֹ; חֲמִישִׁית, לְמִי שֶׁהִתְנַדֵּב מָעוֹת לִקְנוֹת בָּהֶן עֵצִים לַמַּעֲרָכָה; שִׁשִּׁית, לְמִי שֶׁהִתְנַדֵּב מָעוֹת לַלְּבוֹנָה; שְׁבִיעִית, לְמִי שֶׁהִתְנַדֵּב זָהָב לַכַּפֹּרֶת. שְׁמִינִית, לְמוֹתַר חַטָּאת, כְּגוֹן שֶׁהִפְרִישׁ מָעוֹת לְחַטָּאתוֹ וְלָקַח חַטָּאת וְהוֹתִיר מִן הַמָּעוֹת, יַשְׁלִיךְ הַשְּׁאָר לְתוֹכָהּ.

The ninth was for the money that remains after purchasing a guilt-offering. The tenth, for the money that remains after purchasing the pairs of doves necessary for the offerings of zavim, zavot,2 and women after childbirth; the eleventh, for the money that remains after purchasing the offerings of a nazirite; the twelfth, for the money that remains after purchasing the guilt offering of a leper; the thirteenth, for a person who pledged money for an animal to be brought as a burnt offering.תְּשִׁיעִית, לְמוֹתַר אָשָׁם; עֲשִׂירִית, לְמוֹתַר קִנֵּי זָבִים וְזָבוֹת וְיוֹלְדוֹת; אַחַת עֶשְׂרֵה, לְמוֹתַר קָרְבְּנוֹת נָזִיר; שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה, לְמוֹתַר אֲשַׁם מְצֹרָע; שְׁלוֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה, לְמִי שֶׁהִתְנַדֵּב מָעוֹת לְעוֹלַת בְּהֵמָה.

3The purpose for each category for which the funds in the chest were used was written on the outside of the chest. The court stipulated that all the monies that remained after the purchase of sacrifices for which they were designated should be used to offer animals as burnt offerings.3גוְשֵׁם כָּל דָּבָר שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מָעוֹתָיו בְּתוֹךְ הַתֵּבָה, כָּתוּב עַל הַתֵּבָה מִבַּחוּץ. וּתְנַאי בֵּית דִּין הוּא עַל כָּל הַמּוֹתָרוֹת, שֶׁיִּקְרְבוּ עוֹלַת בְּהֵמָה.

It thus follows that all the funds in the latter six chests were used to purchase animals for burnt offerings. Their hides belonged to the priests, as did the hides of other burnt offerings. All the funds in the third chest were to be used to purchase doves: half of them burnt offerings, and half of them sin offerings. All the funds in the fourth chest were to be used to purchase doves to be sacrificed as burnt offerings.נִמְצֵאתָ לָמֵד שֶׁכָּל הַמָּעוֹת הַנִּמְצְאוֹת בְּשֵׁשׁ הַתֵּבוֹת הָאַחֲרוֹנוֹת, לְעוֹלַת בְּהֵמָה; וְעוֹרוֹתֵיהֶן לַכּוֹהֲנִים, כִּשְׁאָר כָּל הָעוֹרוֹת. וְכָל הַמָּעוֹת שֶׁבַּתֵּבָה שְׁלִישִׁית, יִלָּקַח בָּהֶן עוֹפוֹת - חֶצְיָן עוֹלוֹת וְחֶצְיָן חַטָּאוֹת. וְשֶׁבָּרְבִיעִית, כֻּלָּן עוֹלַת הָעוֹף.

4When the shekalim were collected from each and every city, they were sent to the Temple with emissaries. They might be exchanged for golden dinarim, so that they would not become a burden on the journey. All the funds were amassed in the Temple. They were placed in one of the chambers of the Temple. All the doors to the chamber were closed under lock and key, and then they were covered with seals.דבְּכָל מְדִינָה וּמְדִינָה כְּשֶׁגּוֹבִין הַשְּׁקָלִים, מְשַׁלְּחִין אוֹתָן בְּיַד שְׁלוּחִים לַמִּקְדָּשׁ. וְיֵשׁ לָהֶם לְצָרֵף אוֹתָן בְּדִינָרֵי זָהָב, מִפְּנֵי מַשּׂאוֹי הַדֶּרֶךְ. וְהַכֹּל מִתְקַבֵּץ לַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וּמַנִּיחִין אוֹתוֹ בְּלִשְׁכָּה אַחַת מִן הַלְּשָׁכוֹת בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְסוֹגְרִין דַּלְתוֹתֶיהָ בְּמַפְתְּחוֹת, וְחוֹתְמִין עָלֶיהָ חוֹתָמוֹת.

All the shekalim that were collected there were stored in three large baskets. Each of the baskets was large enough to contain nine seah. The remainder of the money was left in the chamber.וּמְמַלְּאִין מִכָּל הַשְּׁקָלִים שֶׁיִּתְקַבְּצוּ שָׁם, שָׁלוֹשׁ קֻפּוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת - שִׁעוּר כָּל קֻפָּה, כְּדֵי שֶׁתָּכִיל תֵּשַׁע סְאִין; וְהַשְּׁאָר, מַנִּיחִין אוֹתוֹ בַּלִּשְׁכָּה.

The money in the baskets was referred to as terumat halishcah (“the funds of the chamber that were set aside”).4וְזֶה שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַקֻּפּוֹת, הוּא הַנִּקְרָא 'תְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה'.

The funds that remained besides the funds stored in the baskets were referred to as sheyarei halishcah (“the remainder within the chamber”).5וְזֶה שֶׁיִּשָּׁאֵר שָׁם יָתֵר עַל מַה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בַּקֻּפּוֹת, הוּא הַנִּקְרָא 'שְׁיָרֵי הַלִּשְׁכָּה'.

5On three occasions during the year funds were taken from this chamber: On Rosh Chodesh Nisan, on either the day before or the day after the festival of Rosh Chodesh Tishrei, and fifteen days before Shavuot.הבִּשְׁלוֹשָׁה פְּרָקִים בַּשָּׁנָה תּוֹרְמִין אֶת הַלִּשְׁכָּה - בְּרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן, וּבְרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ תִּשְׁרֵי, קֹדֶם יוֹם טוֹב אוֹ אַחֲרָיו, וְקֹדֶם עֲצֶרֶת בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם.

How is the money set aside? One person enters the chamber, while the guards stand outside. He asks them: “Should I set aside the funds?” They answer him: “Set them aside; set them aside; set them aside,” repeating the answer three times.וְכֵיצַד תּוֹרְמִין אוֹתָהּ? אֶחָד נִכְנָס לִפְנִים מִן הַלִּשְׁכָּה, וְהַשּׁוֹמְרִין עוֹמְדִים בַּחוּץ, וְהוּא אוֹמֵר לָהֶם 'אֶתְרֹם?' וְהֵן אוֹמְרִים לוֹ 'תְּרֹם תְּרֹם תְּרֹם' - שְׁלוֹשָׁה פְּעָמִים.

The person then filled three smaller baskets, each containing three seah, from the funds in the three large baskets. He then took the money outside to use it until it was depleted.וְאַחַר כָּךְ מְמַלֵּא שָׁלוֹשׁ קֻפּוֹת קְטַנּוֹת, כָּל קֻפָּה מֵהֶן מְכִילָה שָׁלוֹשׁ סְאִין מֵאוֹתָן שָׁלוֹשׁ קֻפּוֹת הַגְּדוֹלוֹת, וּמוֹצִיאָן לַחוּץ, כְּדֵי לְהִסְתַּפֵּק מֵהֶן עַד שֶׁיִּכְלוּ.

Afterwards, he returned and refilled the three small baskets from the three large baskets a second time before Shavuot. The money was then used until it was depleted.וְחוֹזֵר וּמְמַלֵּא אוֹתָן הַשָּׁלוֹשׁ קֻפּוֹת הַקְּטַנּוֹת מִן הַשָּׁלוֹשׁ הַגְּדוֹלוֹת, פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה קֹדֶם עֲצֶרֶת, וּמִסְתַּפְּקִין מֵהֶן עַד שֶׁיִּכְלוּ.

6In Tishrei, he returned a third time, filled the three small baskets from the three large baskets, and used the funds until they were exhausted or until Rosh Chodesh Nisan.ווְחוֹזֵר וּמְמַלֵּא אוֹתָן פַּעַם שְׁלִישִׁית מִן הַשָּׁלוֹשׁ הַקֻּפּוֹת הַגְּדוֹלוֹת בְּתִשְׁרֵי וּמִסְתַּפְּקִין מֵהֶן עַד שֶׁיִּכְלוּ, עַד רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן.

On Rosh Chodesh Nisan, funds were set aside from the new collection.וּבְרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן תּוֹרְמִין מִתְּרוּמָה חֲדָשָׁה.

If the funds in the three large containers were insufficient and were exhausted before the month of Nisan, they would set aside other funds from “the remainder within the chamber”.לֹא הִסְפִּיקוּ לָהֶן הַשְּׁקָלִים שֶׁבַּשָּׁלוֹשׁ קֻפּוֹת הַגְּדוֹלוֹת, וְכָלוּ עַד שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ נִיסָן - חוֹזְרִין וְתוֹרְמִין מִשְּׁיָרֵי הַלִּשְׁכָּה.

7The three smaller baskets into which the funds were set aside and taken outside were labeled alef, bet, gimmel. In this manner, he would know to take the funds from the first until they were exhausted, and then to take from the second, and then to take from the third.זשָׁלוֹשׁ קֻפּוֹת הַקְּטַנּוֹת שֶׁהוּא תּוֹרֵם בָּהֶם וּמוֹצִיאָן לַחוּץ, כָּתוּב עֲלֵיהֶן 'אַלֶף' 'בֵּית' 'גִּימֶל' - כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּסְתַּפְּקוּ מִן הָרִאשׁוֹנָה עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ מִסְתַּפְּקִין מִן הַשְּׁנִיָּה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ מִסְתַּפְּקִין מִן הַשְּׁלִישִׁית.

He should fill the first basket from the first large basket, and then cover the large basket with a handkerchief. Afterwards, he should fill the second basket from the second large basket and then cover the large basket with a handkerchief, and then the third basket from the third large basket. He does not cover this large basket with a handkerchief, thus making it apparent that he concluded with it. And he would begin with it when he entered a second time before Shavuot.וְתוֹרֵם רִאשׁוֹנָה מִן הַקֻּפָּה הָאַחַת הַגְּדוֹלָה, וּמְחַפֶּה אוֹתָהּ בְּמִטְפַּחַת. וְתוֹרֵם הַשְּׁנִיָּה מֵהַקֻּפָּה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַשְּׁנִיָּה, וּמְחַפֶּה אוֹתָהּ בְּמִטְפַּחַת. וְתוֹרֵם הַשְּׁלִישִׁית מִן הַקֻּפָּה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַשְּׁלִישִׁית, וְאֵינוֹ מְחַפֶּה אוֹתָהּ - כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיֶה נִכֶּרֶת שֶׁבָּהּ סִיֵּם, וְיַתְחִיל מִמֶּנָּה בַּתְחִלָּה בַּפַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה, כְּשֶׁיִּכָּנֵס קֹדֶם עֲצֶרֶת.

At that time, he would first set aside the funds from the large basket that was uncovered, and then he covered it. He then set aside from the large basket from which he had taken the funds first on the previous occasion, and covered it. He would then take funds from the large basket that is next to it. He would not cover this basket, so that he would know to start from it in Tishrei, the third time he entered.וְתוֹרֵם הָרִאשׁוֹנָה מִן הַגְּדוֹלָה שֶׁהָיְתָה מְגֻלָּה, וּמְחַפֶּה אוֹתָהּ; וְתוֹרֵם הַשְּׁנִיָּה מִן הַגְּדוֹלָה שֶׁתָּרַם מִמֶּנָּה בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה תְּחִלָּה, וּמְחַפֶּה אוֹתָהּ; וְתוֹרֵם הַשְּׁלִישִׁית מִן הַגְּדוֹלָה הַסְּמוּכָה לָהּ, וְאֵינוֹ מְחַפֶּה אוֹתָהּ - כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּתְחִיל מִמֶּנָּה בַּתְּחִלָּה, בַּפַּעַם שְׁלִישִׁית כְּשֶׁיִּכָּנֵס בְּתִשְׁרֵי.

Thus, he would have placed funds into the first, second, and third of the small baskets from each of the large baskets.עַד שֶׁנִּמְצָא תּוֹרֵם רִאשׁוֹנָה וּשְׁנִיָּה וּשְׁלִישִׁית הַקְּטַנּוֹת מִכָּל אַחַת וְאַחַת מִן הַגְּדוֹלוֹת.

8When he placed the funds in these three small baskets, he placed the funds in the first basket on behalf of the inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael; in the second basket, on behalf of the inhabitants of the walled cities surrounding Eretz Yisrael, and on behalf of the inhabitants of the totality of Eretz Yisrael; and in the third basket, on behalf of the inhabitants of Babylonia, on behalf of the inhabitants of Media, on behalf of the inhabitants of other distant countries, and on behalf of the remainder of the Jewish people.חכְּשֶׁהוּא תּוֹרֵם שָׁלוֹשׁ קֻפּוֹת אֵלּוּ, תּוֹרֵם אֶת הָרִאשׁוֹנָה לְשֵׁם אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל; וְהַשְּׁנִיָּה, לְשֵׁם הַכְּרָכִין הַמֻקָּפִין לָהּ, וּלְשֵׁם כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל; וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁית, לְשֵׁם בָּבֶל וּלְשֵׁם מָדַי וּלְשֵׁם הַמְּדִינוֹת הָרְחוֹקוֹת וּלְשֵׁם שְׁאָר כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל.

9When he set aside the funds, he had the intention of including all those whose shekalim had been collected and were present in the chamber, all those whose shekalim had been collected and had not reached the chamber, and all those whose shekalim would be collected in the future.6 In this manner, the shekalim that he set aside to use to purchase the sacrifices would serve as atonement for the entire Jewish people. It is as if their shekalim had already reached the chamber, and were included in the money that was set aside.טכְּשֶׁהוּא תּוֹרֵם, מִתְכַּוֵּן לִתְרֹם עַל הַגָּבוּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בַּלִשְׁכָּה, וְעַל הַגָּבוּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא הִגִּיעַ לַלִּשְׁכָּה, וְעַל הָעָתִיד לִגָּבוֹת - כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ אֵלּוּ הַשְּׁקָלִים שֶׁהוֹצִיאוּ לְהִסְתַּפֵּק מֵהֶן, כַּפָּרָה עַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּכְאִלּוּ הִגִּיעוּ כָּל שִׁקְלֵיהֵן לַלִּשְׁכָּה, וְנִתְרְמָה מֵהֶן תְּרוּמָה זוֹ.

10When the person entered to set aside the funds, he should not enter wearing a garment in which he could hide money, nor wearing shoes or sandals, nor wearing tefillin or an amulet, lest the people suspect that he hid funds from the chamber underneath them when he set aside the funds. And they would talk to him continuously from the time he entered until the time he departed, so that he could not place a coin in his mouth.יכְּשֶׁיִּכָּנֵס הַתּוֹרֵם לִתְרֹם, לֹא יִכָּנֵס בְּבֶגֶד שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר לְהַחְבּוֹת בּוֹ כֶּסֶף, וְלֹא בְּמִנְעָל, וְלֹא בְּסַנְדָּל, וְלֹא בִּתְפִלָּה, וְלֹא בְּקָמֵיעַ - שֶׁמָּא יַחְשְׁדוּ אוֹתוֹ הָעָם, וְיֹאמְרוּ 'הִחְבִּיא מִמְּעוֹת הַלִּשְׁכָּה תַּחְתָּיו כְּשֶׁתְּרָמָה'. וּמְדַבְּרִים הָיוּ עִמּוֹ מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁיִּכָּנֵס וְעַד שָׁעָה שֶׁיֵּצֵא - כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִתֵּן לְתוֹךְ פִּיו.

Even though all these safeguards were taken, a poor person or someone who craved money should not be appointed to set aside these funds. In this way, the matter will not arouse suspicion, thus fulfilling the advice of Numbers 32:22: “You shall be blameless before God and before Israel.”וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּזְהָרִים כָּל כָּךְ, עָנִי אוֹ מִי שֶׁהוּא נִבְהָל לְהוֹן, לֹא יִתְרֹם מִפְּנֵי הַחֲשָׁד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וִהְיִיתֶם נְקִיִּם מֵה' וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל" (במדבר לב, כב).

Footnotes

These offerings were brought by zavim, zavot, and women after childbirth. Since the money was placed in the chest without distinction, half was used to purchase doves for burnt offerings, and half for sin-offerings.

Zivut is an irregularity in the otherwise natural flow of bodily emission, which in men (Zav/Zavim) results in abnormal seminal discharge, and in women (Zavah/Zavot), the term refers to a woman who experiences vaginal bleeding at times other than those of her menstrual period. She also becomes impure.

Had the court not made such a stipulation, it would not have been permissible to change the purpose of these funds from the intent for which they were originally donated. (See also Chapter 4, Halachah 9.)

These funds were used to purchase the communal sacrifices and for other purposes, as related in Chapter 4, Halachot 1-7.

These funds were used for various communal projects. While the funds in the three baskets were considered sanctified, and a person who used them for mundane purposes would be liable for the misuse of a sacred article (me’ilah). The other funds, by contrast, were used for mundane purposes, albeit those of the community, and not those of an individual. (See Hilchot Me’ilah 6:13.)

I.e., even if for some reason a person had not given his half-shekel as yet, retroactively he received a share in these sacrifices. In this manner, everyone who ultimately contributes toward the sacrifices will have a portion in all the communal sacrifices, even those offered before his contribution was made.

Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day

Shekalim - Chapter 2

Shekalim - Chapter 2

Test Yourself on Shekalim Chapter 2