Numbers 3:50

50 From the firstborn of the Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,[a] according to the sanctuary shekel.

Numbers 3:50 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
50 Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
English Standard Version (ESV)
50 From the firstborn of the people of Israel he took the money, 1,365 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary.
New Living Translation (NLT)
50 He collected 1,365 pieces of silver on behalf of these firstborn sons of Israel (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary shekel).
The Message Bible (MSG)
50 From the 273 firstborn Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels according to the Sanctuary shekel.
American Standard Version (ASV)
50 from the first-born of the children of Israel took he the money, a thousand three hundred and threescore and five [shekels], after the shekel of the sanctuary:
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
50 The silver Moses collected for the firstborn Israelites weighed 34 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
50 He collected the money from the firstborn Israelites: 1,365 [shekels measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
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.

Numbers 3:50 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 3:50

Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money,
&c.] Or "for the firstborn", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it, and so the Hebrew particle (tam) is sometimes used F21; for children of a month old or little more could not pay the money, but their parents for them, which was paid by them, and Moses received it for the superfluous number of two hundred seventy three; but it is a matter of doubt of whom this was exacted, and by whom paid, and who could be reckoned as this superfluous number, unless they were the last two hundred seventy three that were numbered: some have thought this was paid out of the public stock, which was a ready way of doing it, but whether reasonable is not so manifest, since these firstborn were the properties of particular persons; the more commonly received method of doing it with the Jewish writers was, according to Jarchi and Abarbinel, and so in the Talmud F23 by lot; the former of which describes the manner of doing it thus, 22,000 pieces (of paper or parchment) were brought, and on them written, "a son of Levi", or "a Levite", and two hundred seventy three other pieces, and on them were written, "five shekels"; these were mixed together and put into an urn or box, and then they were bid to come and take out the pieces, and according as the lot was, they were allowed as redeemed by the Levites, or paid the redemption money: and as this was a method much in use with the Hebrews, it is not improbable:

a thousand three hundred and threescore and five [shekels], after the
shekel of the sanctuary;
1,365 shekels, which is exactly the number of shekels that two hundred seventy three should pay, reckoning five shekels per head; which Jarchi counts thus, for two hundred firstborn, a thousand shekels; for seventy firstborn, three hundred fifty; and for three firstborn fifteen, shekels, which in all amounted to about an hundred seventy pounds of our money.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 Vid. Nold. Partic. Ebr. Concord. p. 579.
F23 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 17. 1.

Numbers 3:50 In-Context

48 Give the money for the redemption of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”
49 So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites.
50 From the firstborn of the Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.
51 Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the LORD.

Cross References 2

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. That is, about 35 pounds or about 16 kilograms
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