Numbers 3:49

49 Therefore Moses took the money of them that were numbered above, and which they had again-bought of the Levites, (And so Moses took the money for the first-born sons of the Israelites, who surpassed the number of the Levites, and so had to be bought back, or ransomed, or redeemed,)

Numbers 3:49 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 3:49

And Moses took the redemption money
Of five shekels per head:

of them that were over and above redeemed by the Levites;
or were more than those redeemed by them. A Levite redeemed a firstborn, or freed him from the redemption price, being taken in lieu of him: 22,000 Levites were answerable to 22,000 firstborn of Israel; but as there were no more Levites than the above number, there remained two hundred seventy three firstborn to be redeemed by money, and it was the redemption money of these Moses took.

Numbers 3:49 In-Context

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;

48 and thou shalt give the money to Aaron and to his sons, the price of them that be numbered above (the number of the Levites). (and thou shalt give this money to Aaron and to his sons, as payment for those who be listed, or registered, above the number of the Levites.)

49 Therefore Moses took the money of them that were numbered above, and which they had again-bought of the Levites, (And so Moses took the money for the first-born sons of the Israelites, who surpassed the number of the Levites, and so had to be bought back, or ransomed, or redeemed,)

50 for the first begotten (sons) of the sons of Israel, a thousand three hundred and sixty and five of shekels, by the weight of the saintuary; (in all, a thousand and three hundred and sixty-five shekels, by the measure of the sanctuary;)

51 and he gave that money to Aaron and to his sons, by the word that the Lord commanded to him.