Numbers 3:46

46 And ¹as the redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the people of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites,

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 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

45 "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. The Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.

46 And as the redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the people of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites,

47 you shall take five shekels per head; you shall take them according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel of twenty gerahs),

48 and give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are over."

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 18:15, 16; Exodus 13:13