44 And Jehovah spoke to 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 Jehovah. 46 And for those that are to be ransomed, the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are in excess over the Levites, 47 thou shalt take five shekels apiece by the poll, according to the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them,—twenty gerahs the shekel; 48 and thou shalt give the money unto Aaron and unto his sons for those in excess among them who are to be ransomed. 49 And Moses took the ransom-money from them that were over and above those who were ransomed by the Levites; 50 of the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, a thousand three hundred and sixty-five [shekels], according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 51 And Moses gave the money of them that were ransomed to Aaron and to his sons, according to the commandment of Jehovah,—as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 3:44-51
Commentary on Numbers 3:40-51
(Read Numbers 3:40-51)
The number of the first-born, and that of the Levites, came near to each other. Known unto God are all his works beforehand; there is an exact proportion between them, and so it will appear, when they are compared together. The small number of first-born, over and above the number of the Levites, were to be redeemed, and the redemption-money given to Aaron. The church is called the church of the first-born, which is redeemed, not as they were, with silver and gold; but, being devoted by sin to the justice of God, is ransomed with the precious blood of the Son of God. All men are the Lord's by creation, and all true christians are his by redemption. Each should know his own post and duty; nor can any service required by such a Master be rightly accounted mean or hard.