shekels required of each Jew, living in Judea or not, as the temple tax on the Day of Atonement (Ex 30:11–15). This was necessary because Jewish coins were the only ones fit to be presented as an offering to God. Roman coins bearing the images of the deified emperors were considered idolatrous. Because of the absence of silver money with Hebrew inscriptions, however, the half shekel was paid in Tyrian silver coins. Jesus overthrew the tables of these moneychangers, not because they were changing