Numbers 3:44-51

D. LEVITES DEDICATED IN BEHALF OF THE FIRSTBORN vv. 44-51
TEXT

Numbers 3:44. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 45. Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord. 46. And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and three-score and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; 47. Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:) 48. And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. 49. And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: 50. Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: 51. And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.

PARAPHRASE

Numbers 3:44. Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 45. Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites rather than their cattle. The Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord. 46. And for those who are to be ransomed of the 273 of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who are in excess of the Levites, 47. you shall take five shekels for each man, that is, the shekel of the sanctuary (or, twenty gerahs),[1] 48. and you shall give the money, which is the ransom of the excess, to Aaron and his sons. 49. And Moses took the ransom money from those of the excess beyond those ransomed by the Levites; 50. he took the money, as of the shekel of the sanctuary, totaling 1,365, from the sons of Israel. 51. Then Moses gave the ransom money to Aaron and his sons, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

[1] In our terms, approximately 6.8 pounds, avoirdupois.

COMMENTARY

Numbers 3:44-45 repeat earlier instructions for the purpose of emphasis and clarity. The Lord underscores the purpose for adopting the Levites; He also adds necessary instructions with reference to the number of firstborn among the tribes which exceeds that of the Levites273. They were to be redeemed on the basis of the established price for redemption of the firstborn among the people (see Numbers 18:16).

The shekel of the sanctuary had been established in Exodus 30:13; see also Leviticus 27:6. Shekel means weight, and demonstrates the ancient practice of establishing the value of an item by equating it with a measured weight of gold, silver, or even bronze or iron; The shekel weighed about four-tenths of an ounce. It required 1365 shekels to redeem the excess of the firstborn (273) over the number of the Levites. The sum was given to Aaron in lieu of the firstborn. From the beginning it was ordained that those who served their brothers in the capacity of priests and Levites should derive their livelihood from those whom they served. The principle would be extended into the New Covenant of the Gospel by the apostle Paul in declaring that the Lord has ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel, (1 Corinthians 9:14). Denied the opportunity of ordinary livelihood by labor, those whose Occupation involves total service to God in behalf of their fellow men may rightly ask their provision by those whom they serve.

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

74.

What is suggested when the Lord said, The Levites shall be mine?

75.

Establish the value of the ransom price of the firstborn if it was paid in gold, and if it was paid in silver, according to the current values of these metals.

76.

The provisions given in this section are only for a single time and a single circumstance. What regulations were given for consecration of the firstborn of the people and animals later?

77.

Who paid the ransom money to the priests?