Chapter 3

Numbering the Levites

1. THE GENERATIONS OF AARON AND MOSES (Numbers 3:1-4 [1] These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai. [2] And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. [3] These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office. [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.
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1. Sons of Aaron (Numbers 3:2And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
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1. Nadab
2. Abihu
3. Eleazar
4. Ithamar
2. Consecrated to Minister (Numbers 3:3These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.
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3. Offering of Strange Fire (Numbers 3:4And 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.
   See All...; Leviticus 10:1-7 [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. [2] And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. [3] Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. [4] And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp. [5] So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said. [6] And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled. [7] And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.
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1. Nadab and Abihu died.
2. They had no children.
3. Possibly done under the influence of alcohol (Leviticus 10:8-11 [8] And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, [9] Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: [10] And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; [11] And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.
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2. THE PRESENTATION OF THE LEVITES (Numbers 3:5-10 [5] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [6] Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. [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. [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. [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. [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.
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1. Levites Presented to Aaron (Numbers 3:6Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
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1. Bring them near.
2. Present them to Aaron.
3. They may minister unto him.
2. Keeping the Charge (Numbers 3:7-9 [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. [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. [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.
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1. Keep the charge of Aaron (Numbers 3:7And 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.
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2. Keep the charge of the congregation (Numbers 3:7-8 [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. [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.
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3. Keep all of the instruments of the tabernacle (Numbers 3:8And 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.
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4. Wholly given to Aaron (Numbers 3:9And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.
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3. Aaron and His Sons (Numbers 3:10And 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.
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1. Appointed by Moses under the authority of God
2. They shall wait on their office.
1. The word “wait” can mean two different things.  One is to be still or rest in expectation.  The other meaning (which applies to our text) is to serve or work.  This fits the concept of waiters and waitresses working at a restaurant.
3. The stranger shall be put to death.
3. THE LEVITES ARE GOD’S (Numbers 3:11-13 [11] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [12] And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; [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.
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1. Levites Instead of the Firstborn (Numbers 3:12And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
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2. Firstborn belong to God (Numbers 3:13Because 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.
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4. NUMBERING AND ENCAMPMENT OF THE LEVITES (Numbers 3:14-39 [14] And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, [15] Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them. [16] And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded. [17] And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. [18] And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei. [19] And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. [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. [21] Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites. [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. [23] The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward. [24] And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael. [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, [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. [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. [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. [29] The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. [30] And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. [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. [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. [33] Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari. [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. [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. [36] And under the custody and charge 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, [37] And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords. [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. [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.
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1. Numbering Instructions (Numbers 3:15Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.
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1. The children of Levi
2. By their families
3. Every male
4. A month old and upward
2. The Sons of Levi (Numbers 3:17And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
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1. Gershon
2. Kohath
3. Merari
3. The Sons of Gershon (Numbers 3:18And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.
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1. Libni
2. Shimei
4. The Sons of Kohath (Numbers 3:19And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
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1. Amram
2. Izehar
3. Hebron
4. Uzziel
5. The Sons of Merari (Numbers 3:20And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.
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1. Mahli
2. Mushi
6. Numbering and Encampment of the Gershonites (Numbers 3:21-26 [21] Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites. [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. [23] The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward. [24] And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael. [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, [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.
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1. Number = 7,500 (Numbers 3:22Those 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.
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2. Encamped = behind the tabernacle westward (Numbers 3:23The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.
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3. Chief = Eliasaph son of Lael (Numbers 3:24And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
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4. Charge (Numbers 3:25-26 [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, [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.
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1. The tabernacle
2. The tent
3. The covering thereof
4. The hanging for the door of the tabernacle
5. The hangings of the court
6. The curtain for the door of the court
7. The cords of it for all the service thereof
7. Numbering and Encampment of the Kohathites (Numbers 3:27-31 [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. [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. [29] The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. [30] And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. [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.
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1. Number = 8,600 (Numbers 3:28In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.
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2. Encamped = side of the tabernacle southward (Numbers 3:29The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.
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3. Chief = Elizaphan son of Uzziel (Numbers 3:30And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
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4. Charge
1. The ark
2. The table
3. The candlestick
4. The altars
5. The vessels of the sanctuary
6. The hanging
7. The service thereof
8. Eleazar the Son of Aaron (Numbers 3:32And 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.
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1. Chief over the chief of the Levites
2. Oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary
9. Numbering and Encampment of the Merarites (Numbers 3:33-37 [33] Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari. [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. [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. [36] And under the custody and charge 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, [37] And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.
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1. Number = 6,200 (Numbers 3:33Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
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2. Encamped = side of the tabernacle northward (Numbers 3:35And 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.
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3. Chief = Zuriel son of Abihail (Numbers 3:35And 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.
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4. Charge
1. The boards of the tabernacle
1. The bars thereof
2. The pillars thereof
3. The sockets thereof
4. The vessels thereof
2. The pillars of the court
1. Their sockets
2. Their pins
3. Their cords
10. Encamping on the East (Numbers 3:38But 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.
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1. Moses
2. Aaron and his sons
11. Total Numbering of Levites (Numbers 3:39All 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.
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1. Total of three families
1. Gershonites     =          7,500
2. Kohathites       =          8,600
3. Merarites         =          6,200
4. Total               =          22,300
2. Total according to scripture
1. 22,000
3. Solution
1. The Levites were to redeem the firstborn among the children of Israel.
2. More than likely 300 of the original Levites that were numbered were also firstborn, hence they could not redeem the other firstborn and could not be counted in the total number capable of redeeming the firstborn.
3. The number 300 out of 22,300 may seem small, as it is a ratio of .94 of 70, but consider how many souls came to Egypt in (Exodus 1:5And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.
   See All...).  There were 70 souls and the firstborn of the family would have been considered Reuben.
12. The Encampment Illustrated (See Sheet A3)
13. The Tabernacle Facing the Rising of the Sun
1. God met with Aaron in the holy of holies.  From God’s point of view (looking out of the tabernacle), He saw Moses, Aaron and Judah toward the rising of the sun.
2. Who were they?
1. Moses is the prophet.
2. Aaron is the priest.
3. Judah is the king.
3. Of whom are they typical?
1. Moses typifies the earthly ministry of Christ as a prophet.
2. Aaron typifies the priestly work of Christ due to His death, burial and resurrection.
3. Judah typifies Christ as the coming king to defeat the armies of antichrist in Revelation 19.
4. The rising of the sun typifies the rising of the “Sun of righteousness with healing in his wings.” This deals with His care for His people during the kingdom age.
5. REDEMPTIVE WORK OF THE LEVITES (Numbers 3:40-51 [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. [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. [42] And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel. [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. [44] And the LORD spake unto 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 the LORD. [46] 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; [47] 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:) [48] And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. [49] And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: [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: [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.
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1. Number All Firstborn (Numbers 3:40-43 [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. [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. [42] And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel. [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.
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1. Males (Numbers 3:40And 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.
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2. A month old and upward (Numbers 3:40And 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.
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3. Total = 22,273 (Numbers 3:43And 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.
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2. Levites to Redeem (Numbers 3:45Take 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.
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1. Levites to redeem firstborn
2. Cattle of Levites to redeem cattle of Israelites
3. Redemption Price of Firstborn (Numbers 3:46-51 [46] 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; [47] 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:) [48] And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. [49] And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: [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: [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.
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1. Levites (Numbers 3:46And 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;
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1. Firstborn =      22,273
2. Levites =         22,000
3. Lacking =        273
2. Money (Numbers 3:47-50 [47] 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:) [48] And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. [49] And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: [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:
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1. Shekels =         5
2. Lacking =        273
3. Amount =        1,365
3. Gave the money to Aaron and his sons (Numbers 3:51And 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.
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