Numbers 3:45

45 Take thou the Levites for the first begotten of the sons of Israel, and take the beasts of the Levites for the beasts of them, and the Levites shall be mine; I am the Lord. (Now give me the Levites in place of all the first-born sons of the Israelites, and the beasts of the Levites in place of the first-born male beasts of the Israelites, and so the Levites shall be mine; I am the Lord.)

Numbers 3:45 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 3:45

Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the
children of Israel
The Lord had declared before that he had taken them, and now he bids Moses take them, who had numbered them, and give them to Aaron, instead of the firstborn, whose numbers were also taken for this purpose:

and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle;
but not to be given to Aaron and his sons, or to the priests for their use, but to remain with the Levites for their use, who were now separated from the other tribes, and taken into the service of God; and as they were dedicated to God, so their cattle likewise for their support as his ministers:

and the Levites shall be mine;
in a special manner his, being devoted to his service:

I [am] the Lord;
who had a right to do this, and expected to be obeyed in it.

Numbers 3:45 In-Context

43 and the males were by their names, from one month and above, two and twenty thousand two hundred and seventy and three. (and the number of the males, listed by their names, from one month of age and older, was twenty-two thousand and two hundred and seventy-three.)

44 And the Lord spake to Moses, and said,

45 Take thou the Levites for the first begotten of the sons of Israel, and take the beasts of the Levites for the beasts of them, and the Levites shall be mine; I am the Lord. (Now give me the Levites in place of all the first-born sons of the Israelites, and the beasts of the Levites in place of the first-born male beasts of the Israelites, and so the Levites shall be mine; I am the Lord.)

46 Forsooth in the price of two hundred and seventy and three persons, that pass the number of the Levites, of the first begotten (sons) of the sons of Israel, (And as payment to buy back the two hundred and seventy-three persons, of the first-born sons of the Israelites, who surpass the number of the Levites,)

47 thou shalt take five shekels by each head, at the measure of the saintuary (thou shalt take five shekels for each one, by the measure of the sanctuary); a shekel hath twenty halfpence;