Numbers 3:40-51
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.” (Numbers 3:40-41)
Exodus 13:2 commanded “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.” Every firstborn that was male was to be given to God. Animals acceptable for sacrifices were to be sacrificed, and unclean animals were to be redeemed or killed. Children were to be redeemed. God offered to accept the males of Levi as substitutes for firstborn of other tribes.
“And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel. And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.” (Numbers 3:42-43)
The census of Levi had counted twenty two thousand total males above at month old. When they counted just the firstborn males in the other twelve tribes, they counted twenty two thousand two hundred and seventy three.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 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.
And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; 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:) And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.” (Numbers 3:44-48)
Not only the Levites themselves, but their cattle were to be given to God as substitutes for the cattle of Israel. Because the number of the first born was greater than the total number of Levite men, the extra two hundred seventy three were to be redeemed for five shekels apiece, Since a shekel was about 0.35 oz., the redemption price was about 1.75 oz. or roughly $56 when silver is $32/oz. The cash was to be given to Levi to make up the difference.
“And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: 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: 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.” (Numbers 3:49-51)
The Levites were to spend their lives serving God. As substitutes for the firstborn of the other tribes, they relieved the firstborn males of the other tribes to continue in their family business and stay in their home. The cattle provided a source for the daily sacrifices and national sacrifices so there would be no need to find donors for national sacrifices. The money would recompense the Levites for taking that responsibility.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.” (Numbers 3:40-41)
Exodus 13:2 commanded “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.” Every firstborn that was male was to be given to God. Animals acceptable for sacrifices were to be sacrificed, and unclean animals were to be redeemed or killed. Children were to be redeemed. God offered to accept the males of Levi as substitutes for firstborn of other tribes.
“And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel. And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.” (Numbers 3:42-43)
The census of Levi had counted twenty two thousand total males above at month old. When they counted just the firstborn males in the other twelve tribes, they counted twenty two thousand two hundred and seventy three.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 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.
And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; 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:) And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.” (Numbers 3:44-48)
Not only the Levites themselves, but their cattle were to be given to God as substitutes for the cattle of Israel. Because the number of the first born was greater than the total number of Levite men, the extra two hundred seventy three were to be redeemed for five shekels apiece, Since a shekel was about 0.35 oz., the redemption price was about 1.75 oz. or roughly $56 when silver is $32/oz. The cash was to be given to Levi to make up the difference.
“And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: 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: 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.” (Numbers 3:49-51)
The Levites were to spend their lives serving God. As substitutes for the firstborn of the other tribes, they relieved the firstborn males of the other tribes to continue in their family business and stay in their home. The cattle provided a source for the daily sacrifices and national sacrifices so there would be no need to find donors for national sacrifices. The money would recompense the Levites for taking that responsibility.
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