Bamidbar 3:49

49 And Moshe took the kesef hapidyom of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levi’im;

Bamidbar 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.

Bamidbar 3:49 In-Context

47 Thou shalt even take five shekels for each one individually, after the shekel of HaKodesh shalt thou take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs) [Vayikra 27:6];

48 And thou shalt give the kesef, wherewith those over and above them [the Levi’im] is to be redeemed, unto Aharon and to his banim.

49 And Moshe took the kesef hapidyom of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levi’im;

50 Of the bechor of the Bnei Yisroel collected he the kesef; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of HaKodesh;

51 And Moshe gave the kesef hapidyom unto Aharon and to his banim, according to the command of Hashem, as Hashem commanded Moshe.