Numbers 3:45-51

45 "Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are mine, I am God.

46 Redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of Levites

47 by collecting five shekels for each one, using the Sanctuary shekel (the shekel weighing twenty gerahs).

48 Give that money to Aaron and his sons for the redemption of the excess number of Israelites."

49 So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites.

50 From the 273 firstborn Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels according to the Sanctuary shekel.

51 Moses turned over the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of God.

Numbers 3:45-51 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.