Numbers 3:40-51
New English Translation
The Substitution for the Firstborn
40 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Number all the firstborn males of the Israelites from a month old and upward, and take[a] the number of their names. 41 And take[b] the Levites for me—I am the Lord—instead of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.” 42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn males among the Israelites, as the Lord had commanded him. 43 And all the firstborn males, by the number of the names from a month old and upward, totaled 22,273.
44 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: 45 “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. And the Levites will be mine. I am the Lord. 46 And for the redemption of the 273 firstborn males of the Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, 47 collect[c] five shekels for each one[d] individually; you are to collect[e] this amount[f] in the currency of the sanctuary shekel (this shekel is twenty gerahs).[g] 48 And give the money for the redemption of the excess number of them to Aaron and his sons.”
49 So Moses took the redemption money[h] from those who were in excess of those redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn males of the Israelites he collected the money, 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. 51 Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 3:40 tn The verb נָשָׂא (nasaʾ, “take”) has here the sense of collect, take a census, or register the names.
- Numbers 3:41 tn The verb is the perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive; it carries forward the instructions from the preceding verse. The verb “take” now has the sense of appointing or designating the Levites.
- Numbers 3:47 tn The verb again is the perfect tense in sequence; the meaning of “take” may be interpreted here with the sense of “collect.”
- Numbers 3:47 tn The idea is expressed simply by repetition: “take five, five, shekels according to the skull.” They were to collect five shekels for each individual.
- Numbers 3:47 tn The verb form now is the imperfect of instruction or legislation.
- Numbers 3:47 tn Heb “them,” referring to the five shekels.
- Numbers 3:47 sn The sanctuary shekel was first mentioned in Exod 30:13. The half-shekel of Exod 38:26 would then be 10 gerahs. Consequently, the calculations would indicate that five shekels was about two ounces of silver for each person. See R. B. Y. Scott, “Weights and Measures of the Bible,” BA 22 (1951): 22-40, and “The Scale-Weights from Ophel, 1963-1964,” PEQ 97 (1965): 128-39.
- Numbers 3:49 sn The word used is “silver.” Coins were not in existence until after 700 b.c. (starting with Lydia).
Numbers 3:40-51
International Standard Version
Numbering Israel’s First-born
40 Later the Lord instructed Moses: “Number all the first-born males of Israel from a month old and above and list their names. 41 Separate[a] the descendants of Levi for me—since[b] I am the Lord—in place of all the first-born sons of Israel. Also separate[c] the livestock of the descendants of Levi in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of Israel.” 42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn from the sons of Israel just as the Lord commanded him. 43 All the first-born males according to the list of their names from a month old and above numbered 22,273.
Creation of the Levite Ministry
44 Then the Lord told Moses, 45 “Separate the descendants of Levi in place of all the firstborn sons of Israel and the livestock of the descendants of Levi in place of their livestock. The descendants of Levi belong to me, since[d] I am the Lord. 46 You are to pay a ransom for the 273 first-born Israelis who exceed the census number of the descendants of Levi, 47 so collect five shekels for each individual,[e] denominated in shekels of the sanctuary, that is, the shekel that weighs 20 gerahs.[f] 48 Then give the money meant for ransom of their excess to Aaron and his sons.”
49 So Moses took the ransom money to account for the difference in the total number[g] of those redeemed by the descendants of Levi. 50 From the firstborn of the Israelis, Moses took money amounting to 1,365 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 51 Moses gave the ransom money to Aaron and his sons according to the Lord’s instructions, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 3:41 Lit. Take
- Numbers 3:41 The Heb. lacks since
- Numbers 3:41 The Heb. lacks separate
- Numbers 3:45 The Heb. lacks since
- Numbers 3:47 Lit. head
- Numbers 3:47 I.e., a unit of weight measurement equal to about 16 barley grains; about 0.025 ounces or 0.5 grams; cf. Exod 30:13; Num 18:16
- Numbers 3:49 Lit. the excess
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