Numbers 3:40-51

Modern English Version

The Redemption of the Firstborn

⁴⁰ The Lord said to Moses: Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and older and take the number of their names. ⁴¹ You will take the Levites for Me (I am the Lord) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel.

⁴² Moses numbered, as the Lord commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel. ⁴³ All the firstborn males, by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.

⁴⁴ The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ⁴⁵ Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock, and the Levites will be Mine. I am the Lord. ⁴⁶ For those who are to be redeemed of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites, ⁴⁷ you will take five shekels^[a] apiece by the poll; according to the shekel of the sanctuary you will take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs). ⁴⁸ And you will give the money, by which the number of them is to be redeemed, to Aaron and to his sons.

⁴⁹ Moses took the redemption money of those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰ Of the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels,^[b] after the shekel of the sanctuary. ⁵¹ And Moses gave the money of those who were redeemed to Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.