Numbers 3:48

48 Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It will buy back those Israelites who outnumber the Levites."

Numbers 3:48 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 3:48

And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of
them is to be redeemed
Or the superfluous number, the number of them that exceeded the Levites, namely, two hundred seventy three; the price of their redemption is ordered to be given

unto Aaron, and to his sons;
since the Levites were taken in lieu of the firstborn, whose redemption money belonged to the priests; and seeing the Levites were given to Aaron and his sons on that consideration, and there being a deficiency of them to answer to the firstborn, it was but right and just that the redemption price of the superfluous number should be paid to them.

Numbers 3:48 In-Context

46 There are 273 more firstborn male Israelites than there are Levites.

47 It will cost you two ounces of silver per person (using the standard weight of the holy place) to buy them back.

48 Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It will buy back those Israelites who outnumber the Levites."

49 So Moses took this ransom money from the Israelites who outnumbered the Levites.

50 The silver Moses collected for the firstborn Israelites weighed 34 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place.