Numbers 3:46

46 Redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of 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 Again God spoke to Moses. He said,

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 are mine, I am God.

46 Redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of Levites

47 by collecting five shekels for each one, using the Sanctuary shekel (the shekel weighing twenty gerahs).

48 Give that money to Aaron and his sons for the redemption of the excess number of Israelites."