After the numbering of the troops, each of the families went to their designated areas of the camp, pitched their tents in their tribal areas and raised their flags and ensign as ordered by God through Moses. Everything went fine, and done in an orderly manner.

The first numbering of the Levite tribe was from the age of one month and older; for God had instructed Moses to redeem the firstborn males of all the children of Israel, and instead of taking the firstborn male of each of the tribes for service in the tabernacle, he will take a newborn male of the tribe of Levi to be redeemed, substitute for those first born of the other tribes. Their service will be in the capacity of arms and protection, instead of the tabernacle service.

Numbers 3:1 "These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in mount Sinai."

These are the generations or descendants of Aaron and Moses, and the reason that Moses is listed along with Aaron, is this is referring to the entire tribe of Levi. In the beginning of the journey, Moses was the one that faced God, face to face, and the people looked to Moses as their spiritual leader from the beginning. Moses was the one that went up on mount Sinai, and God spoke directly to him many times. However from this point on, it will address only Aaron, for the priesthood will be through Aaron and his sons. The duties of the other part of the tribe and families of the tribe of Levi will have their specific duties and responsibilities, and serving in the army was not one of those duties. So because this tribe of Levi will not be armed, and do battle, they will encamp in the center of the encampment, well protected on all sides by their armed brethren. When they are in movement, they will have the army of six tribes before them and six tribes behind them.

Numbers 3:2 "And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar."

The sons of Aaron establishes the priest line. Pay close attention to the first two names, "Nadab" and "Abihu", for later these two sons of Aaron defiled God, when they brought strange fire to the altar, and God struck them dead.

Leviticus 10:1 "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He commanded them not."

God laid out in His law how the Levites were to perform their duties in their consecration and for the worship, and these two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu took lightly the instructions from the Lord. God was angered over their disrespect for His instructions and struck the down.

Leviticus 10:2 "And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord."

This event happened right after Moses consecrated Aaron and his sons as priests, as recorded in Leviticus 8. Then at the end of the week of separation by the priest, they forgot the instruction that God gave to them through Moses. There are no shortcut in the priesthood; the altar fire must be maintained.

Numbers 3:3 "These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which wee anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office."

The two sons of Moses, Gershon and Merari are listed in I Chronicles 23:6 among the Kohathites, for they were of the lineage of the Koathites. Kohath was one of the sons of Levi.

Numbers 3:4 "(And Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord, when they offered strange fire before the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.)"

In the whole period of Aaron's life these two sons, Nadab and Abihu of Aaron were the only priests that served under Aaron. Later his other two sons became priests, and Eleazar became the high priest. Eleazar and Ithamar did not have any children during Aaron's life span. So as time goes by after Aaron's death, these two younger sons will be the leadership of the priesthood.

Numbers 3:5 "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,"

Numbers 3:6 " "Bring the tribes of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him."

By using the word " "near" to Levi", means that they were to be used as servants to Aaron and the priesthood, and would have duties as directed by Aaron and the priests. God is telling the tribe of Levi that each of them will serve and be under Aaron and the priesthood. You do what Aaron and his sons tell you to do.

Numbers 3:7 "And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle."

There was a lot of work to be done in the setting up of the tabernacle, the taking it down for movement of all the items. The care, maintenance and upkeep were the duties of the tribe of Levi. There will be other work required of them in wood cutting, and keeping of the animals for the sacrifice.

Numbers 3:8 "And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle."

The instruments of the tabernacle are the furniture and vessels within the tabernacle. The whole of Israel was responsible for this duty, and that is why the substitution of the firstborn was necessary, as given in verse four, to substitute those other children for the children of Levi, for the other tribes' males would serving as soldiers.

Numbers 3:9 "And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel."

"Wholly given" [epizeuxis] means "with emphasis", and they are called in the Hebrew text "nethunim", meaning "given ones". Nethunim using "u" as given here are of the tribe of Levi, whereas the "Nethinim" as given in Ezra and Nehemiah are "strangers given to service". Those strangers, or "Kenites" came into service as the wood cutters under King David and Solomon four hundred years later. Then by the time of Ezra, some six hundred years later, the Kenites had completely taken over the priesthood.

The kingdom was split into two separate nation or houses after Solomon's death, the house of Judah [tribes of Judah and Benjamin], and the house of Israel [the other ten tribes]. The Levites were to be scattered amongst all the tribes. So after the seventy years of captivity of Judah in Babylon, Ezra and some 43,000 were split into twelve groups and heading back to Jerusalem to rebuild the streets and walls of Jerusalem, and the temple to worship. Ezra stopped the entire wagon train out on the trail, to take inventory.

Ezra 8:15 "And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three day: and I viewed the People, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi."

So we see by the time of Christ, these "Nethumim" were gone, and the "Nethinim" or strangers [Kenites] were doing the things and duties that God gave the Levites. The Kenites, sons of Cain, the son of Satan through Eve, had taken over the priesthood. Nethinim means "strangers called to service", and this was against God's instructions.

As the children of Israel departed from this base of mount Sinai, traveled through the wilderness, and settled in the promise land; they became a nation under God, with God as their king. Following the time of the judges, they received a king because of their rebellion, and grew into a great nation under King David and his son Solomon. It was at the time of King David that these Kenites were forced into service as wood cutters. At King Solomon's death the nation of Israel was split into two kingdoms; and within both these nations, the duties of these Nethinim servants grew to were they did everything in the temple. However God instructed that only the Levites were to be near and do the duties of the priesthood, and in and near the tabernacle. Aaron's sons were to be at the alter of God, and these Levite servants were to be outside the tabernacle or temple tending to the duties of woodcutting, hauling water, and other maintenance duties.

So these Kenites, offspring of Cain, would later take over even the leadership roles in the temple, by the time our Lord Jesus Christ was born, and lived His life. Their traditions would be brought into the temple and mixed with the laws and instruction of God. Is it any wonder that when the true Messiah came, these Pharisees and priests had murder in their mind. Jesus was teaching the Word that went against their traditions. Notice this next verse.

Numbers 3:10 "And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death." "

God is telling Moses; "thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office." Only Aaron and his sons and their future generation were to be in the tabernacle or temple doing the duties of God's priests. If any stranger came near to do those duties, God ordered that this stranger should be put to death. The holy of holies is where God communes with His people, and only those designated enter into that room. We will read later where non Levites were not to be involved in the moving and maintenance of the vessels and instruments and equipment.

Remember that as we read through the book of Numbers, and the other parts of the Old Testament, these things are "ensamples" or examples as to us living in this end generation. I Corinthians 10:11 "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." The "time of the end" started when the Jews returned to Palestine to set up their tiny nation of Israel, and returned to the city of Jerusalem. That happened back in 1948, with Jerusalem taken over after the war of 1967 with the Arabs. This generation then is the final generation of this earth age of flesh man, it was established by Jesus Christ Himself in Matthew 24:32-34 just prior to His death, as given to His disciples.

Matthew 24:32-34 "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:" [32] "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." [33] "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." [34]

The people living in that generation that will witness the return of the Jews to Jerusalem to establish their government. The people that will see the many false Christs rise, and all the other events of the end times that Christ stated in Matthew 24, which are the seven seals are the end generation. We are that end generation of this age of flesh man, and God has given us through His Word all the things that we can expect to happen in our life time. As Christians, we are not to worry for God also told us that we would be warned and protected in these times. What we are reading here in Numbers "are ensamples, and are written for our admonition," [a warning to us] "upon whom the ends of the world [world age of flesh man] are come."

The point that we should get out of the book of Numbers is that we should learn to trust Him, and when something is written in His Word, believe and take that warning to heart. God will do nothing but what we are warned first through His Word. This is why we ought to read and study all of the Word of God, Old and New Testament alike. As we continue through the book of Numbers, paganism and idolatry will draw God's people away from Him. People will chase after the gods and traditions of other peoples, and away from the instruction He has given through His Word. God has emotions, and when his people go whoring after other gods, and heathen traditions, there will be a price to pay for their turning from Him. This practice is quite common today, for it seems that Christians like to create their new ideas from pagan though, and inject those practices into their worship.

Numbers 3:11 "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,"

Numbers 3:12 " "And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be Mine;"

The purpose of this numbering of the Levites from one month old and upward, was for the redemption of the firstborn of the other tribes. This dates back to the time of the tenth plague in Egypt, where the firstborn of each house of and family were killed. Both in man and animal, the death angel claimed the life. The Children of Israel went to their homes, placed the blood of the lamb over their door and on the posts and the death angel passed over that home. God told Moses back in Exodus 13:2; " "Sanctify unto Me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is Mine." God spared those firstborn under the blood, and now He is claiming what is rightfully His.

So here in Numbers, God is setting up a way that the people can redeem their firstborn from God, and the children of Levi are the ones that will be dedicated to a life in the service of God, rather than the firstborn of the other tribes, and their animals. The other tribes will then be free to serve as the armed forces, farmers, or what ever they do for a living, and that service will be designated to this appointed tribe.

There will be two numberings in the book of Numbers; the first being numbered from the age of one month upward, as stated in this verse for the purpose of Redemption. The second will be in in Numbers 4, will be only amongst the offspring of Aaron, for the purpose of service as priests within the tabernacle. The reason that God gave the Levites control over the tabernacle is given in Exodus 32, that time when the people were bowing to the golden calf while Moses was up on the mountain receiving the instructions and law from God. When Moses came down from the mountain as saw the heathen worship that was going on, he asked "who was on the Lord's side", the entire tribe of Levi stepped forth.

Exodus 32:26 "Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me." And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him."

This is a matter of only a month after the event of the golden calf took place, and this entire tribe of Levi made that commitment to our Lord. In fact it has only been a year and a month since the children of Israel departed out of Egypt, as the Numbers 1:1-3 establishes. Moses was so mad over what he say that he went to Aaron and asked how this all took place. Aaron of course blamed it on the other tribes, but he was right in there with them. So at this point in time, Moses stood in the gate of the camp and made all of the people of Israel make their choice. So at this point in time God decided that rather than taking the firstborn of all the tribes of Israel being reserved for service in the tabernacle, He would redeem those and take only the male of the tribe of Levi to serve Him at the altar and tabernacle of God.

Numbers 3:13 "Because all the firstborn are Mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto Me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: Mine shall they be: I am the Lord." "

In Luke 2:23 quotes from Exodus 13:2, and Numbers 18:15, 16 "(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)" This bears out the fact that only the firstborn male children does this apply.

Numbers 3:14 "And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,"

This is the start of the instructions as to how the Levites are to be numbered.

Numbers 3:15 " "Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from the month old and upward shall thou number them."

The process of numbering these children will be the same a the numbering of the men to serve in the army. The reason for the age being one month old and above, is that this is the age when a parent had to redeem that son as a firstborn child.

Numbers 3:16 "And Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded."

So by the mouth of the Lord, Moses number each of the children of Levi.

Numbers 3:17 "And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari."

So these are the three sons of Levi, the son of Jacob, in the order that they were born. Gershon, then Kohath, and the third born was Merari. The meanings of these three names are "Gershon" [exile, or refuge], Kohath [assembly], and Merari [bitter, or unhappy].

Numbers 3:18 "And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei."

The sons of Gershon were Libni, and Shimei by family names. These people will make up the first of the three divisions of the Levites. Libni means white, and Shimei means famous. These are the two division within the family of the Gershonites.

Numbers 3:19 "And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel."

The second son of Jacob, Kohath had four sons; Amram meaning [high people], and Aaron, Moses and Miriam were the children of Amram. Izehar [oil or light], Hebron [alliance], and Uzziel meaning [My strength is God]. So Moses and Aaron are of the family unit of the Kohathites.

Numbers 3:20 "And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers."

Mahli meaning [sick], Mushi [sensitive] and these are the families of Merari, the third son of Levi. Though these names are sick and sensitive, these families of the Kohathites were responsible for setting up and taking down the heaviest part of the tabernacle, panel boards, and items that had to be moved throughout the wilderness.

Numbers 3:21 "Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites."

The Gershonites were assigned to move the curtains, tent material coverings, things hangings, all the cords and ropes necessary to set up the tents and secure the tabernacle. These people would tare down the tent and put it up when the were to stay in a place for a while.

Numbers 3:22 "Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred."

The number of male children and adults from the age of one month and up, numbered 7,500 boys and men. This numbering is for redemption purposes only.

Numbers 3:23 "The families of the Gershonites shall pitch be behind the tabernacle westward."

So these Gershonites numbering a total over some 15,000 people more or less, would encamp on the west side of the tabernacle; between the tabernacle and the tribes of Dan, Naphtali and Asher. They did not provide any men to bear arms, for that protection was from the other tribes. Remember that there were three tribes on each side of the tabernacle that provided the protection for the family of Levites in the center. The Levites were encamped near to the work that was required of them.

Numbers 3:24 "And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael."

Eliasaph was the person that God elected to be the chief or leader of this tribe.

Numbers 3:25 "And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,"

The "tabernacle", meaning "curtains of the tabernacle", for there are ten curtains, [Exodus 26:2] each made of fine linen, and this family was responsible for the care, movement and upkeep of those fine linens. Each curtain was 28 cubits by 4 cubits, or the masses of fine linen were about 70 to 75 feet long, and about 10 to 12 feet wide, that went into the tabernacle. They also were responsible for the hangings for the door and gate openings. This wasn't the vail leading into the holy of holies, but the larger tent unit door, and the main entrance and court area of the tabernacle.

Numbers 3:26 "And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof."

We will see later in Chapter seven that the princes of the tribes gave these Gershonites wagons to move these massive cloth item in, on their journey through the wilderness. The Gershonites will get two of the six wagons, and six oxen to pull the wagons. The Gershonites also were responsible for the movement of the furniture of the holy of holies.

Numbers 3:27 "And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites."

Moses, Aaron and Miriam were part of the Kohathites.

Numbers 3:28 "In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary."

The duties of these Kohathites was to keep the charge of the Sanctuary, and the number of males of this family are listed here as 8,600 boys and men. In numbering these three families, the number totals just don't add up to the 22,000 given in verse 39. The Moffat bible list these Kohathites as 8,300 boys and men numbered. So it was just a copy error by one of the translators. However, some scholars point out that there were 300 male firstborn, and those could not be included in the sum totals for redemption, yet they would still be numbered. However, I tend to believe that there was a error in the copying of the material.

Numbers 3:29 "The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward."

These Kohathites will encamp between the tabernacle, southward next to the tribes of Reuben, Simeon and Gad.

Numbers 3:30 "And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel."

The head or chief of this family of the Kohathites was selected by God to be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. Uzziel was the youngest son of Kohath.

Numbers 3:31 "And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof."

When the camp would move from the location, these Koathites would be responsible for the movement of the ark of the covenant, the altars and the vessels of the Sanctuary. The vessels of the sanctuary were the candlestick, the altar of incense, and also the altar of burnt offering. The hanging that is stated in this verse is the veil of the holy of holies. This veil separated the outer court of the sanctuary from the holy of holies. In fact the movement of these items was has honor to this family, yet there was a man named Korah in the family that dishonored the family. Korah led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, which ended in all their rebellious people being killed. This will be discussed later in Numbers 16; 26:9-11. These Kohathites were not to handle, but when the items were prepared for movement, they would actually do the moving.

Numbers 3:32 "And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary."

Eleazar, the third son of Aaron the high priest was made the leader over all the Kohathites. He was in charge of the handling of all the items that were most precious to God, in the tabernacle worship; and their movement while on their journey.

Numbers 3:33 "Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari."

Numbers 3:34 "And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred."

The number of these families of Merarites were 6,200 of the males one month and older.

Numbers 3:35 "And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward."

Zuriel meaning [son of God] was appointed by God to be the leader of the Merarites. These Merarites were to encamp their families on the north side of the tabernacle, between the tabernacle and the tribes of Dan, Naphtali, and Asher on the north side. The name "Abihail" means [father or possessor of might].

Numbers 3:36 "And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto,"

These boards are discussed in Exodus 26:15-30. They were constructed out of Shittim wood, and stood ten cubits in length, and a cubit and a half wide to each board. There were twenty boards on the south side, and twenty boards for the north side. six boards went to make up the west side, and two for the corners of two sides of the tabernacle. So these boards were about three to four feet wide and and twenty four to thirty feet long. These boards are large pieces of lumber that would be hauled on four wagons provided by the princes of the tribes, and pulled by two oxen each when they were to be moved. The sockets and pillars were also moved by these Merarites.

Numbers 3:37 "And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords."

The "pins and their cords" are the tent pegs and their ropes to hole the tent up.

Numbers 3:38 "But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death."

On the east side of the tabernacle, the side of the entrance into the tabernacle is this land group of people. Only Moses and Aaron and their families shall be allow to be in that entrance area on the east side of the sanctuary. No strangers were allowed to even approach this side of the tabernacle. God placed them between Judah, Issachar and Zebulan, the warrior encamped for the protection at the gate entrance, Moses and the priests.

Numbers 3:39 "All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the Lord, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand."

The number of all the Levites encamped around the tabernacle was 22,000 males of age one month and upward, and their families. Stop and think for a moment the massive size of this encampment, with an 608,000 army, with their families, and here these 22,000 males and their families near the tabernacle placed in the center of the camp. The distance around the camp site was about thirty miles, "a days journey". Think of the massive job of protecting, feeding and providing for such a massive number of people on the move over a forty year period. The love that our Father had for His people is beautiful, and He will provide for each of us when we put our trust in Him, and by faith believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and follow His ways.

In biblical numerics, 22 is the number for light, and one thousand is the number for the "glory of God". So by biblical numerics this number of males of the Levites stood for "the light of the glory of God". That was the duty of the Levitical priesthood, to bring the light of the glory of God to the people, and keep that light shining before them. When we compare this figure to Numbers 26:62, twenty three thousand at the end of the wilderness journey, some thirty eight years later, this number increased by a thousand in captivity.

Numbers 3:40 "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."

So now that they have numbered the children of Levi for the redemption exchange for the other tribes of Israel, the next four verses deal with the numbering of all the males of the rest of the tribes from one month old and older. So how many firstborn of Israel are there in each family.

Numbers 3:41 "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." "

Before they can make that exchange of one Levite male for one firstborn of the rest of the tribes, this number must be know and the males identified. Thou shalt take the Levites in exchange for those firstborn. Remember that God not only claimed the firstborn of man, but of their cattle and livestock also. So this numbering extended to the cattle also. The cattle were not exchanged head for head, but the number of cattle the Levites had would replace the firstborn of the heads of the cattle of the other tribes also. The point was to show that the cattle as well as the males of the Levites were God's to claim, and the property of YHVH Father.

Numbers 3:42 "And Moses numbered, as the Lord commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel."

Moses completed all the numbering as God commanded him to.

Numbers 3:43 "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."

When the numbering was completed, the number of all the firstborn of the rest of the tribes was 22,273 firstborn males. Remember from verse 39, it was recorded 22,000 males of Levi. There are 273 more firstborn of the tribes than firstborn of the males of Levi. Something will have to be done to make this right.

Numbers 3:44 "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,"

Numbers 3:45 " "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."

The redemption has taken place, as God is instruction Moses to consider the entire group of the tribe of the Levites His, instead of the firstborn of the men and cattle of the rest of the tribes of Israel. So this is declaring that all of the males of the tribe of Levi are now committed to the service to the tabernacle and serving the people before God, and none of the other tribes are to be committed to that end. What a process to go through to show that God is still claiming His Own, and all men of Levi were committed now to maintenance, upkeep, and service of the tarring down and setting up of the tabernacle for this journey through the wilderness, and after they entered into the promise land. Of course this puts order in the worship process, and the duties of each man can be fixed to a certain family.

Numbers 3:46 "And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threesore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;"

This verse now takes in consideration those 273 males of the children of Israel that are more than the Levites.

Numbers 3:47 "Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekels of the sancturary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:)"

Later there will be a shekel of the king, separate from the shekel of the Sanctuary. So to even out the number, from this point on, each firstborn male was required to pay five shekels of silver to the tabernacle, for its upkeep and the well-being of the priest's families.

Numbers 3:48 "And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons." "

This odd number is the two hundered and seventy three [273] goes directly to Aaron and his sons. So this is like a tax on the firstborn that goes to the government, for the priests, Aaron and his sons were to do the duties of a government, as well as the priest. They were to judge the people, keep order in the camp, as well as the keep the records for the tribes of Israel. They made the offerings before the Lord, and settled matters between neighbors.

Numbers 3:49 "And Moses too the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:"

Numbers 3:50 "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:"

The money that was given over to Aaron and his family was 1,365 shekels of the sanctuary, to make adjustment for the added responsibility put on the priests, for the increase in number of male firstborn in the rest of the tribes.

Numbers 3:51 "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."