Numbers 3:46

46 There are 273 more firstborn male Israelites than there are Levites.

Numbers 3:46 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 3:46

And for those that are to be redeemed
With money, there being not Levites enough to answer to them, and exchange for them:

of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the
children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;
for the sum total of the Levites, as given, was but 22,000, ( Numbers 3:39 ) , whereas the sum total of the firstborn of Israel were 22,273, ( Numbers 3:43 ) , so that there were, two hundred seventy three more of the latter than of the former; and what was to be done with these next follows.

Numbers 3:46 In-Context

44 The LORD said to Moses,

45 "Take the Levites to be substitutes for all the firstborn Israelites and the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for their animals. The Levites will be mine. I am the LORD.

46 There are 273 more firstborn male Israelites than there are Levites.

47 It will cost you two ounces of silver per person (using the standard weight of the holy place) to buy them back.

48 Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It will buy back those Israelites who outnumber the Levites."