Numbers 3:40-48

Good News Translation

The Levites Take the Place of the First-Born Sons

^40-41 The Lord said to Moses, “All of Israel's first-born sons belong to me. So register by name every first-born male Israelite, one month old or older. But in place of them I claim all the Levites as mine! I am the Lord! I also claim the livestock of the Levites in place of all the first-born of the livestock.” ⁴² Moses obeyed, and registered all the first-born males ⁴³ one month old or older; the total was 22,273.

⁴⁴ The Lord said to Moses, ⁴⁵ “Now dedicate the Levites as mine in place of all the first-born Israelite sons, and dedicate the livestock of the Levites in place of the first-born of the Israelites' livestock. ⁴⁶ Since the first-born Israelite sons outnumber the Levites by 273, you must buy back the extra sons. ⁴⁷ For each one pay five pieces of silver, according to the official standard, ⁴⁸ and give this money to Aaron and his sons.”