Numbers 3:38-48

38 Moses, Aaron, and his sons, who performed the duties of^[a] the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites, camped in front of the tabernacle on the east,^[b] in front of the tent of meeting toward the sunrise. Any unauthorized person who came near [it] was to be put to death.^[c]

39 The total number of all the Levite males one month old or more that Moses and Aaron^[d] registered by their clans at the Lord's command was 22,000.

Redemption of the Firstborn

40 The Lord told Moses: "Register every firstborn male of the Israelites^[e] one month old or more, and list their names.

41 You are to take the Levites for Me-I am the Lord-in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites' cattle in place of every firstborn among the Israelites' cattle."

42 So Moses registered every firstborn among the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him.

43 The total number of the firstborn males one month old or more listed by name was 22,273.

44 The Lord spoke to Moses again:

45 "Take the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites' cattle in place of their cattle. The Levites belong to Me; I am the Lord.^[f]

46 As the redemption price for the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

47 collect five shekels for each person, according to the standard sanctuary shekel-20 gerahs to the shekel.^[g]

48 Give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are in excess among the Israelites."

Numbers 3:38-48 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 3

In this chapter an account is given of the genealogy of the priests and Levites, and of the gift of the Levites to the priests, of the numbering of them, and the service they were to perform; and first of the priests, the sons of Aaron, Nu 3:1-4; and then of the Levites, as given unto them, to wait upon them, and assist them, Nu 3:5-10; and these were taken instead of the firstborn, Nu 3:11-13; and ordered to be numbered, which was done accordingly by their families, Nu 3:14-20; and the sum of each is given, and the particular work assigned to them; of the Gershonites, Nu 3:21-26; of the Kohathites, Nu 3:27-32; of the Merarites, Nu 3:33-38; the sum total of them is given, Nu 3:39; then the firstborn of the children of Israel, from a month old are ordered to be numbered, and were, Nu 3:40-43; and these appearing to be more in number than the Levites, by two hundred seventy three a direction is given that the two hundred seventy three should be redeemed at the rate of five, shekels apiece, and the money paid to Aaron and his sons, Nu 3:44-48; which was accordingly done, Nu 3:49-51.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or who guarded
• [b]. Nm 2:3-9
• [c]. Nm 1:51; 3:10; 8:19; 18:7
• [d]. Some Hb mss, Sam, Syr omit and Aaron
• [e]. Nm 8:16-18; Ex 13:1-2
• [f]. Nm 3:13,41; 10:10; 15:40-41
• [g]. Nm 18:16