Numbers 3:49

49 So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites.

Numbers 3:49 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 3:49

And Moses took the redemption money
Of five shekels per head:

of them that were over and above redeemed by the Levites;
or were more than those redeemed by them. A Levite redeemed a firstborn, or freed him from the redemption price, being taken in lieu of him: 22,000 Levites were answerable to 22,000 firstborn of Israel; but as there were no more Levites than the above number, there remained two hundred seventy three firstborn to be redeemed by money, and it was the redemption money of these Moses took.

Numbers 3:49 In-Context

47 you shall take five shekels per head; you shall take them according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel of twenty gerahs),
48 and give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are over."
49 So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites.
50 From the firstborn of the people of Israel he took the money, 1,365 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary.
51 And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.