“If only my anger were weighed (Shakol Yishakel) and my suffering carried together with it on a scale. Because now, that side of the scale, it would be heavier than the sand of the seas: Therefore, my words stammer (Job 6:2–3).” Job wishes that his anger and suffering were weighed together on one side of the scale against all the sand of the seas. (Ramban).

I wonder if Job was correct. Although I am certain that he experienced his anger and suffering as greater than all the sand of the seas. I wonder what would have happened if God had responded, “Okay, Job; let’s do it and see what happens.”

I suspect that Job’s raging anger and horrible, devastating suffering, would not weigh half as much as the sands of the sea.

We often experience our anger and suffering as being far more than what they truly are. They are the Half Shekel compared to the full Shekel we believe them to be.

When we come to hand over a coin that represents the “Ransom of our Soul,” we often wonder whether or not we have already paid that ransom with all our suffering. Perhaps, the Half Shekel was a reminder that there is always another perspective, and it may very well be that we are only part of the way there in paying the, “Ransom of our Soul.”

Author Info:
Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.