Numbers 3:49

49 So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites.

Numbers 3:49 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 3:49

And Moses took the redemption money
Of five shekels per head:

of them that were over and above redeemed by the Levites;
or were more than those redeemed by them. A Levite redeemed a firstborn, or freed him from the redemption price, being taken in lieu of him: 22,000 Levites were answerable to 22,000 firstborn of Israel; but as there were no more Levites than the above number, there remained two hundred seventy three firstborn to be redeemed by money, and it was the redemption money of these Moses took.

Numbers 3:49 In-Context

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."
49 So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites.
50 From the 273 firstborn Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels according to the Sanctuary shekel.
51 Moses turned over the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of God.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.