40 God spoke to Moses: "Count all the firstborn males of the People of Israel who are one month and older. List their names. 41 Then set apart for me the Levites - remember, I am God - in place of all the firstborn among the People of Israel, also the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. I am God." 42 So, just as God commanded him, Moses counted all the firstborn of the People of Israel. 43 The total of firstborn males one month and older, listed by name, numbered 22,273. 44 Again God spoke to Moses. He said, 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 mine, I am God. 46 Redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of Levites 47 by collecting five shekels for each one, using the Sanctuary shekel (the shekel weighing twenty gerahs). 48 Give that money to Aaron and his sons for the redemption of the excess number of Israelites." 49 So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the 273 firstborn Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels according to the Sanctuary shekel. 51 Moses turned over the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 3:40-51
Commentary on Numbers 3:40-51
(Read Numbers 3:40-51)
The number of the first-born, and that of the Levites, came near to each other. Known unto God are all his works beforehand; there is an exact proportion between them, and so it will appear, when they are compared together. The small number of first-born, over and above the number of the Levites, were to be redeemed, and the redemption-money given to Aaron. The church is called the church of the first-born, which is redeemed, not as they were, with silver and gold; but, being devoted by sin to the justice of God, is ransomed with the precious blood of the Son of God. All men are the Lord's by creation, and all true christians are his by redemption. Each should know his own post and duty; nor can any service required by such a Master be rightly accounted mean or hard.