Numbers 3:40-51

New International Reader's Version

⁴⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the Israelite males born first in their families. Count all those a month old or more. Make a list of their names. ⁴¹ Take the Levites for me in their place. And take the livestock of the Levites in place of all the male animals in Israel born first to their mothers. I am the Lord.”

⁴² So Moses counted all the oldest sons in Israel. He did just as the Lord had commanded him. ⁴³ There were 22,273 of those sons a month old or more. They were listed by name.

⁴⁴ The Lord also said to Moses, ⁴⁵ “Take the Levites in place of all the males born first in Israel. Also take the livestock of the Levites in place of the livestock of Israel. The Levites belong to me. I am the Lord. ⁴⁶ But there are 273 more males born first in Israel than there are male Levites. ⁴⁷ Collect two ounces of silver for each of them. Weigh it out according to the standard weights used in the sacred tent. ⁴⁸ Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It will buy the freedom of the additional sons in Israel.”

⁴⁹ So Moses collected the silver from the additional sons in Israel to buy their freedom. The Levites took the place of all the others. ⁵⁰ Moses collected 35 pounds of silver. It was weighed out according to the weights used in the sacred tent. Moses collected it from the oldest sons in Israel. ⁵¹ He gave the silver to Aaron and his sons. He did just as the Lord had commanded him.