Numbers 3

27–32 The clans of Kohath (the Kohathites) were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle; they were responsible for the most holy furnishings of the tabernacle and everything related to their use. The Kohathites were given the greatest responsibility, because Aaron was descended from Kohath and Amram; he was one of the Amramites (verse 27). Aaron’s eldest surviving son, Eleazar, was appointed leader of the Kohathites (verse 32).

33–37 The clans of Merari (the Merarites) were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle; they were responsible for the frames, posts and bases of the tabernacle, and everything related to their use.

38 Finally, Moses and the priests were to camp on the east side of the tabernacle, in front of the entrance to the courtyard. They, of course, were responsible for presenting the offerings and performing whatever functions took place inside the tabernacle itself.

Again a warning is given about the danger of approaching the tabernacle in an unauthorized manner (see verse 10).

39–43 The total number of male Levites over one month old was 22,000.¹⁰ The total number of firstborn Israelite males was 22,273.¹¹ Since it took one Levite to redeem one firstborn, 273 firstborn were left unredeemed.

44–51 Why should this exact number of unredeemed be so important? Because every individual is precious to God. For service in the army or in the tabernacle, round numbers can be used. But for redemption, each individual counts.

And so those 273 firstborn needed to be redeemed. They were redeemed by the payment of five shekels¹² each (verse 47); this was the price for redeeming a male under five, according to Leviticus 27:6. The shekels were collected and given to Aaron and his two sons—just as the Levites themselves had been given to Aaron and his sons earlier (verse 9).

Those 273 firstborn were redeemed with silver. But Jesus has now paid for the redemption of every person who believes in Him. We have not been redeemed with perishable things such as silver or gold . . . but with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18–19).