Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;
The third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God. The law required every individual above twenty years of age to pay half a shekel to the sanctuary. But in consequence of the general poverty of the people, occasioned by war and captivity, this tribute was reduced to a third part of a shekel.