Numbers 3:42-51

42 recensuit Moses sicut praeceperat Dominus primogenitos filiorum Israhel

43 et fuerunt masculi per nomina sua a mense uno et supra viginti duo milia ducenti septuaginta tres

44 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen

45 tolle Levitas pro primogenitis filiorum Israhel et pecora Levitarum pro pecoribus eorum eruntque Levitae mei ego sum Dominus

46 in pretio autem ducentorum septuaginta trium qui excedunt numerum Levitarum de primogenitis filiorum Israhel

47 accipies quinque siclos per singula capita ad mensuram sanctuarii siclus habet obolos viginti

48 dabisque pecuniam Aaron et filiis eius pretium eorum qui supra sunt

49 tulit igitur Moses pecuniam eorum qui fuerant amplius et quos redemerant a Levitis

50 pro primogenitis filiorum Israhel mille trecentorum sexaginta quinque siclorum iuxta pondus sanctuarii

51 et dedit eam Aaroni et filiis eius iuxta verbum quod praeceperat sibi Dominus

Numbers 3:42-51 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 3

In this chapter an account is given of the genealogy of the priests and Levites, and of the gift of the Levites to the priests, of the numbering of them, and the service they were to perform; and first of the priests, the sons of Aaron, Nu 3:1-4; and then of the Levites, as given unto them, to wait upon them, and assist them, Nu 3:5-10; and these were taken instead of the firstborn, Nu 3:11-13; and ordered to be numbered, which was done accordingly by their families, Nu 3:14-20; and the sum of each is given, and the particular work assigned to them; of the Gershonites, Nu 3:21-26; of the Kohathites, Nu 3:27-32; of the Merarites, Nu 3:33-38; the sum total of them is given, Nu 3:39; then the firstborn of the children of Israel, from a month old are ordered to be numbered, and were, Nu 3:40-43; and these appearing to be more in number than the Levites, by two hundred seventy three a direction is given that the two hundred seventy three should be redeemed at the rate of five, shekels apiece, and the money paid to Aaron and his sons, Nu 3:44-48; which was accordingly done, Nu 3:49-51.