Numbers 3:47

47 Collect two ounces of silver for each of them. Weigh it out in keeping with the standard weights that are used in the sacred tent.

Numbers 3:47 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 3:47

Thou shall even take five shekels apiece the poll
Or head; every firstborn, or his parent for him, was bound to pay five shekels, which were about eleven or twelve shillings of our money, and which was afterwards settled as the price of such a redemption, ( Numbers 18:16 ) ;

after the shekel of the sanctuary shall thou take [them];
being full weight according to the standard there kept:

the shekel [is] twenty gerahs; (See Gill on Leviticus 27:25).

Numbers 3:47 In-Context

45 "Take the Levites in place of all the males who were born first in Israel. Also take the livestock of the Levites in place of the livestock of Israel. The Levites belong to me. I am the Lord.

46 "But there are 273 more males who were born first in Israel than there are male Levites.

47 Collect two ounces of silver for each of them. Weigh it out in keeping with the standard weights that are used in the sacred tent.

48 Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It will buy the freedom of the additional sons in Israel."

49 So Moses collected the silver from the additional sons in Israel to buy their freedom. The Levites took the place of all of the others.