Numbers 3:40-51

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Levites Dedicated Instead of the Firstborn

40 Then the Lord said to Moses: “Number all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and above, and take the number of their names. 41 And you shall 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 So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the children of Israel, as the Lord commanded him. 43 And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names from a month old and above, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.

44 Then 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. The Levites shall be Mine: I am the Lord. 46 And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who are more than the number of the Levites, 47 you shall take five shekels for each one individually; you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, the shekel of twenty gerahs. 48 And you shall give the money, with which the excess number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and his sons.”

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

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Nu 3:40–51.

Key Points:

• God's Command to Moses: The Lord instructed Moses to number all the firstborn males of Israel and to take the Levites in place of the firstborn among the Israelites and their livestock.

• The Levites' Role: The Levites were chosen by God to be His, serving as substitutes for the firstborn of Israel, thus dedicating them to the service of the Lord and the upkeep of the temple.

• Redemption of the Firstborn: An excess number of firstborn over the Levites required the payment of five shekels per individual to redeem the additional firstborn, demonstrating God's provision for redemption.

• Application to Jesus: This practice foreshadows Jesus, the firstborn over all creation, who fulfills this redemption perfectly by His life, death, and resurrection, redeeming humanity back to God.