Why does the Torah juxtapose the Parshah of the half-Shekel to that of the Ketores?
Ba'al ha'Turim: The Torah juxtaposes Ki Sisa to the words "al Karnosav" - in the previous Pasuk to hint - to hint at what the Gemara states in Bava Basra, 10b 'Ramah Karno shel Yisrael be'Chi Sisa' (Hashem rised the strength of Yisrael through Tzedakah).
Oznayim la'Torah: Because like the Machtzis ha'Shekel, the Ketores has the power to stop plagues. 1
Oznayim la'Torah: As we find in Korach, Banidbar, 17: 11.
What is the meaning of "Ki Sisa"?
Rashi, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means 'When you decide to receive their total number' (to count). 1
Ramban and R. Bachye #1: It means that, Moshe should count Yisrael now by means of the half-Shekalim, and that that is what one should do whenever one wants to count Yisrael. 2
R. Bachye #2 (citing the Pesikta Zutr?sa: : It means that when Yisrael give Tzedakah it elevates ?the horn of Yisrael?. 3
Hadar Zekenim #1: It means ?When you raise? or ?elevate ? ? ? When, following the sin of the Golden Calf , Hashem wanted to destroy Yisrael and He asked Moshe what He should do with His promise to the Avos never to destroy their descendents, Moshe replied that, since they deserved to have their heads raised from them, Hashem should fulfill this by raising them in greatness, by attatching His Name to them more than to all the other nations; 4 and Hashem agreed.
Hadar Zekenim #2: See how precious are Yisrael! If they are elevated through (Machtzis ha'Shekel, which came through) an Aveirah, how much more so are they elevated through their merits! 5
Oznayim la'Torah: The word "Sisa" itself translates as 'count'. 6
This implies that Moshe's main objective was to count the people and that the money that he received he used to manufacture the sockets. The Rashbam however explains, that his main objective was to collect money for the Mishkan, and he used the opportunity to count the people.
Ramban: In fact, David ha'Melech (thinking that the prohibition was confined to this occasion only), missed this point and counted Yisrael, resulting in a plague. See Shmu?el 2, 24:2-10. See also R. Bachye citing Shmuel 2, 24:15-18.
As opposed to Nochrim who only give Tzedakah in order to aggrandize themselves. See R. Bachye, ibid.
See Hadar Zekenim.
This can be compared to Yosef's brothers who sold him, and through this, he fed the world. See Hadar Zekenim.
Oznayim la'Torah: As we find in Matos, Bamidbar, 31:25 .
What are the implications of the word "Venasnu Ish Kofer Nafdsho"?
Bartenura in Shekalim (1:3): To preclude women from the current half-Shekel donation.
Why does counting Yisrael result in a plague?
Rashi and R. Bachye #1: Because counting people 1 creates an Ayin ha'Ra, which brings on a plague. 2
R. Bachye #2 (in his introduction to the Parshah): Because a. a B?rachah is not effective on anything that is measured, counted or weighed, only on something whose exact amount is not intrinsicaaly known;
Oznayim la'Torah: Directly ? unless one takes from them a half-Shekel, or a lamb or some other article (as Sha'ul ha'Melech did) ? and it was only on this occasion that the half-Shekel was crucial, in order to atone for the sin of the Golden Calf.
Rashi: As we find with David ha'Melech, in Shmuel 2, 24. Sifsei Chachamim: And giving a half-Shekel prevents the Ayin ha'Ra from taking effect.
Why do people who are counted require a Kaparah?
Seforno: Because, bearing in mind that a decrease in numbers is the result of sin. 1 every census is automatically associated with sin. Consequently, every person who is counted must give a Kofer Nefesh in honor of Hashem, and Hashem in His mercy will atone for his sins. 2
Moshav Zekenim (citing the Rosh): It is only because they sinned by the Eigel that they needed to give specifically a half-Shekel. 3
As the Gemara states in Shabbos, 55a 'There is no death without sin'.
As the Torah concludes in Pasuk 15 (Seforno). See also Ba'al ha'Turim.
Like we find in Shmuel 2 24 - where a plague ensued when David counted Yisrael - preesumably because he counted them directly, and not via something else such as sheep (PF). Whereas on the other hand, the Pasuk in Shmuel 1 15:4 relates that Sha'ul counted Yisrael through sheep, and did not require Shekalim for a Kaparah.
If Hashem wanted Moshe to count Yisrael, why did He not command him directly?
Ramban: In fact, Hashem's instructions clearly indicated the obligation to count them, 1 and the reason that Hashem issued the command by inference was in order to extend the prohibition against counting Yisrael directly to all times. 2
Hadar Zekenim: Moshe was concerned that he will not be mentioned after he dies. Hashem told him, just like you erect Yisrael's heads now, so every year when Yisrael mention their Shekalim, I consider it as if you erect their heads.
Oznayim la'Torah: Because the half-Shekel that they were instructed to donate was to atone for the sin of the Golden Calf which had not yet taken place, 3 in which case to command them directly would have been premature. 4
Which Moshe did, as the Torah indicates (35:25) (Ramban).
Ramban: In fact, David ha'Melech (thinking that the prohibition was confined to this occasion only), missed this point and counted Yisrael, resulting in a plague.
And Hashem was only telling them in advance how they would have to atone after they had sinned ? which He presumably did in keeping with His custom of 'creat1ing the Refu'ah before the Makah'.
And indeed it was after the sin that Moshe counted them. See Oznayim la'Torah DH 'Ki Sisa #3.
?ve?Lo Yih?yeh bahem Negef bi?Fekod osam?. Why did Hashem repeat the words ?bi?Fekof osam??
R. Bachye #1: With reference to 30:12:1:2 - once in the desert and once regarding future generations.
R. Bachye: The first time it means ?when Hashem conts them?, the second time, ?when Hashem supervises them. 1
To aoid being brought to Hashem?s attention ? like the Shunamis who said to Elisha ?be?Soch Ami Anochi Yoshaves? (Melachim 2, 4:13). See R. Bachye who elaborates.
