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Redeeming the Firstborn Sons

40 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now count all the firstborn sons in Israel who are one month old or older, and make a list of their names. 41 The Levites must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn sons of Israel; I am the Lord. And the Levites’ livestock must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the whole nation of Israel.”

42 So Moses counted the firstborn sons of the people of Israel, just as the Lord had commanded. 43 The number of firstborn sons who were one month old or older was 22,273.

44 Then the Lord said to Moses, 45 “Take the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. And take the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me; I am the Lord. 46 There are 273 more firstborn sons of Israel than there are Levites. To redeem these extra firstborn sons, 47 collect five pieces of silver[a] for each of them (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs). 48 Give the silver to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the extra firstborn sons.”

49 So Moses collected the silver for redeeming the firstborn sons of Israel who exceeded the number of Levites. 50 He collected 1,365 pieces of silver[b] on behalf of these firstborn sons of Israel (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary shekel). 51 And Moses gave the silver for the redemption to Aaron and his sons, just as the Lord had commanded.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:47 Hebrew 5 shekels [2 ounces or 57 grams].
  2. 3:50 Hebrew 1,365 [shekels] of silver [34 pounds or 15.5 kilograms].

40 The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more(A) and make a list of their names.(B) 41 Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,(C) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”(D)

42 So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. 43 The total number of firstborn males a month old or more,(E) listed by name, was 22,273.(F)

44 The Lord also said to Moses, 45 “Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine.(G) I am the Lord.(H) 46 To redeem(I) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, 47 collect five shekels[a](J) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,(K) which weighs twenty gerahs.(L) 48 Give the money for the redemption(M) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”(N)

49 So Moses collected the redemption money(O) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of the Israelites(P) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,[b](Q) 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.

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 3:47 That is, about 2 ounces or about 58 grams
  2. Numbers 3:50 That is, about 35 pounds or about 16 kilograms