Numbers 3:40-51

The Redemption of the Firstborn

40 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old or more, and list their names.

41 You are to take the Levites for Me—I am the LORD—in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.”

42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD had commanded him.

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

44 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

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 belong to Me; I am the LORD.

46 To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

47 you are to collect five shekels ^[a] for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel of twenty gerahs. ^[b]

48 Give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the excess among the Israelites.”

49 So Moses collected the redemption money from those in excess of the number redeemed by the Levites.

50 He collected the money from the firstborn of the Israelites: 1,365 shekels, ^[c] according to the sanctuary shekel.

51 And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons in obedience to the word of the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.

Numbers 3:40-51 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.

Footnotes

• [a] 5 shekels is approximately 2 ounces or 57 grams.
• [b] 20 gerahs is equivalent to one shekel (approximately 0.4 ounces or 11.4 grams).
• [c] 1,365 shekels is approximately 34.3 pounds or 15.6 kilograms.