ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Pulelulu Ma’asi 24, 2021

give a ransom for his life to the Lord

takitaha ‘omi ha holo ki he ‘Eiki

 'Ekisoto 30 (Exodus 30)

(v. 11-12) 11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the Lord  when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them.

(v. 11-12) Pea folofola ‘a e ‘Eiki kia Mōsese, ‘o pehē, 12‘Oka ke ka lau ‘a e kakai ‘Isileli, ‘a e kakai ‘oku tu‘u, te nau takitaha ‘omi ha holo ki he ‘Eiki, ke huhu‘i ‘aki hono laumālie, ‘i he taimi ‘o ho‘o lau kinautolu; ke ‘oua na‘a ai ha tautea ‘e tō kiate kinautolu ‘i he fai honau lau.

*Commentary:  David Guzik, Study notes on Exodus*

When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number: Later in the book of Numbers, two significant censuses were recorded of the nation of Israel. Here God made provision to make a census without being plagued.

That there may be no plague among them when you number them: A census put Israel at risk of plague because a census (a numbering) signified ownership. This spoke against God’s ownership of Israel, because in their thinking, a man only had the right to count or number what belonged to him. Israel didn’t belong to Israel; Israel belonged to God. It was up to Him to command a counting.

If a count was made without receiving the ransom money, a census communicated the idea that a king or a human leader owned Israel, when God alone did. This was David’s problem in 2 Samuel 24:1-25, when David took a census without the ransom money and God plagued Israel.

*Tohi Vete:  Lesoni Ako Tohitapu ‘a Tevita Kuisaki*

Tohi kakai ‘o ‘Isileli.  ‘Oku hā ‘i he konga kimui ‘o e Tohi Nomipa, ha ongo tohi kakai lalahi ‘e ua fekau’aki pea mo e pule’anga ‘Isileli.  ‘Oku tau ma’u mei he fakamatala ko ‘eni fekau’aki mo ha tu’utu’uni ke fai ha tohi kakai pea ke hao mei he mahaki tautea. 

Ko e taimi ‘oku fai ai ha tohi kakai ‘oku malava ke to ha tautea kiate kinautolu, he ko e lau ‘o e tokolahi ‘oku ne fakahaa’i ‘a e ngaahi tofi’a.  Pea ‘i he’ene pehē, ‘oku tu’u fehangahangai ‘eni pea mo e tu’unga pule ‘a e ‘Otua ki hono tofi’a ko ‘Isileli, koe’uhi ko ‘enau fakakaukau, ‘oku malava ‘e he tangata ke ne ma’u ‘a e me’a ‘oku ne lau´ ‘o pehē ko e me’a pe ‘a’ana.  Ko ‘Isileli na’e ‘ikai ko ha me’a pe ia ‘a ‘Isileli; ko ‘Isileli ko e me’a ia “tofi’a” ia ‘a e ‘Otua.  Ko e ‘Otua pe te ne tu’utu’uni ke fai ha lau kakai.

Kapau na’e fai ha tohi kakai ‘o ‘ikai ‘omi ha holo (pa’anga huhu’i),  ‘e fakahaa’i ‘e he tohi kakai ko ia, ko ‘Isileli ko e me’a ia ‘a e tu’i pe ko ha taki fakaetangata-hili ko ia´, ko ‘Isileli ko e me’a pe ia ‘a e ‘Otua.  Ko e palopalema eni na’e fehangahangai mo Tevita ‘i he tohi 2 Samiuela 24:1-25, ‘a ē na’e fakahoko ai ‘e Tevita ha tohi kakai ‘o ta’e ‘omi ‘aki ha holo (pa’anga huhu’i) pea na’e tō ha mahaki tautea ki ‘Isileli mei he ‘Otua.