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Mat 17:24. Καπερναοὺμ, Capernaum) where Jesus dwelt.[797]-τα δίδραχμα, the didrachms)[798] the Hebrew שקל, shekel, is frequently rendered διδραχμον by the LXX.-οἱ λαμβάνοντες, they that received) sc. for the Temple.[799]
[797] On a different footing, however, from what He had been on before: for He was now dwelling in obscurity with His disciples, to whom He gave the information as to His Passion, Luk 9:18, etc., until He set out on the journey which was to end in His Passion; Luk 9:51; Luk 13:32.-Harm., p. 380.
[798] “In the original [i.e., the Greek of St Matthew], the ‘tribute-money’ which was demanded, and the ‘piece of money,’ of twice its value, which Peter was to find in the mouth of the fish, are discriminated by their proper names. The former is called didrachma, or ‘two drachmæ,’ and the latter stater. The latter was of equivalent value to the Hebrew shekel, and was equal to four drachmæ; and, consequently, two drachmæ were equivalent to half the stater and shekel. Leaving the terms untranslated, Peter is asked if his Master paid the didrachma? and Peter is told that he should find a stater in the mouth of the fish. The stater was also called tetradrachmon, from its containing four drachmæ. It exhibited on one side the head of Minerva, and on the reverse an owl, together with a short inscription. After the destruction of the Temple, the Jews were obliged to pay this tribute to the Romans; and the passage in which the historian relates this, affords one of those minute incidental corroborations which have been so abundantly adduced in evidence of the verity of the evangelical narratives; for he states that the emperor imposed a tribute of two drachmæ (δύο δραχμάς) upon the Jews, wherever they were, to be paid every year into the Capitol, in the same manner as it had been previously paid into the Temple at Jerusalem-thus concurring with the Evangelist, that the half-shekel was usually paid in the form of two drachmæ, or of a single coin of that value. The tax continued to be paid to the Romans in the time of Origen. It is understood, however, that the Temple tribute, though collected in heathen coin, was to be exchanged for Hebrew money before it could be finally paid into the Temple-probably on account of the idolatrous symbols which the former so generally bore. Hence the vocation of the money-changers, whom our Saviour drove from the Temple. They were accustomed, on and after the fifteenth of the month Adar, to seat themselves in the Temple, in order to exchange for those who desired it, Greek and Roman coins for Jewish half-shekels.”-Kitto’s Illustrated Commentary, in loc.-See also Wordsworth, in loc.-(I. B.)
[799] The exaction of this Temple tribute usually took place on the 15th day of the month Adar. And, in accordance with this, the length (interval) of time admirably corresponds to the events and journeys, as frequently recorded, from the feast of dedication, Joh 10:22, up to this place, and further in continuation up to the Sabbath, of which we have the mention in Joh 12:1. Both the Sabbaths noticed, Luk 13:10; Luk 14:1, occupy the middle portion in that time; and the raising of Lazurus took place a few days before the solemn and triumphant entry of our Lord.-Harm., p. 380.