Numbers 3:48

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

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 "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.

50 Moses collected 35 pounds of silver. It was weighed out in keeping with the weights that are used in the sacred tent. Moses collected it from the oldest sons in Israel.