Numbers 3:46

46 Since there were 273 more firstborn males from Isra'el than male L'vi'im, in order to redeem them,

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 ADONAI said to Moshe,

45 "Take the L'vi'im in place of all the firstborn among the people of Isra'el, and the cattle of the L'vi'im in place of their cattle; the L'vi'im are to belong to me, ADONAI.

46 Since there were 273 more firstborn males from Isra'el than male L'vi'im, in order to redeem them,

47 you are to take five shekels [two ounces] for each of these (use the sanctuary shekel, which is equal to twenty gerahs).

48 Give the redemption money for these extra people to Aharon and his sons."