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3 [1] FROM TWENTY YEARS OLD. Starting when one reaches the age of those who are counted [to go out to war].
[2] SIXTY YEARS OLD. Old age. According to many, it is the decree of the King that from a month until five years he shall give five *shekalim;* that is, if the child is a day past a month, the one who vowed shall give five *shekalim* (v. 6). However, according to the Gaon, he shall give a *shekel* per year until five full years have passed. Many say that these are four valuations corresponding to four divisions of life. Next comes nineteen complete years. Then comes fifty-nine years when one is valued at the amount he started with. The fifteen are for the completion of seventy-five years corresponding to the four parts. However, in truth, they are all complete years. Or, one day in the year is considered a year. We will only rely on the words of tradition. For what reason is there to differentiate between a month until five, and from five until twenty since he gives a *shekel* for each year? We can refute the latter from the law regarding a child of a month. Note, one who is less than a month old has no value. After the age of sixty one goes backwards. Furthermore, what should one do after sixty? Shall he always give the same? These are all errors. The general rule is that it is a Scriptural decree. If the amount to be given in valuation was based on the additional *shekalim* above which the male is valued over the female, then note that after the age of sixty a third is added. From five to twenty add a half, and from the age of a month until five and from twenty until sixty one adds to the half its tenth.
Version: Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004
Source: https://www.nli.org.il/he/books/NNL_ALEPH001102376/NLI
License: CC-BY-NC