Numbers-3-44-51

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Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago and of today have, and are shamefully disobeying this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’

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“Numbers 3:44-51”

Part Three.

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Chapter 3:44-51 relates to the redemption of the firstborn. This short closing unit resolves the numerical imbalance between the Levites and Israel’s firstborn by instituting a formal פְּדִיּוֹן (redemption). The Levites are affirmed as אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s (God) exclusive cultic servants (לְוִיִּם תִּהְיֶה־לִי), and any surplus firstborn are redeemed with sanctuary coinage and the proceeds given to the priests (אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו). The passage ties census administration to ritual law and priestly support.

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Let us now read Be’midbar - Numbers Chapter 3; verses 44-51: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah).

44. “And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:

45. ‘Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be Mine, even יְהוָה - the LORD’s.

46. And as for the redemption of the two hundred and three score and thirteen of the first-born of the children of Israel, that are over and above the number of the Levites,

47. thou shalt 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 they that remain over of them are redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons’.

49. And Moses took the redemption-money from them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites;

50. from the first-born 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 redemption-money unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of יְהוָה - the LORD, as יְהוָה - the LORD commanded Moses”.

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Let us now look the ‘verse by verse’ Item, with explanations!

Numbers chapter 3:44-51. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim designates the Levites as the substitute for Israel’s firstborn, identifies an excess of 273 firstborn over Levites, fixes a redemption price of five shekels per person (שֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ), and records the total 1,365 shekels handed to Aaron and his sons.

Verse 44.

Paraphrase: And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke to Moses, saying.

Explanation: A standard prophetic formula introducing a direct divine command about the Levites and the firstborn; it signals that what follows is authoritative ritual‑administration.

Verse 45:

Paraphrase: Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; the Levites shall be Mine. (לְוִיִּם תִּהְיֶה־לִי תַּחַת כָּל־בְּכוֹרוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל).

Explanation: The Levites are formally substituted for the tribe of firstborn (בְּכוֹרוֹת). This substitution establishes the Levites’ exclusive dedication to God and explains why the firstborn are not conscripted when Levites suffice.

Verse 46:

Paraphrase: And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Count the number of the firstborn among the children of Israel, from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.”

Explanation: A second census is commanded for the firstborn to determine whether there is any numerical imbalance. The age threshold (“from a month old and upward”) ensures the count is of viable firstborn for ritual purposes.

Verse 47:

Paraphrase: And you shall take the Levites instead of the firstborn of Israel; and the Levites shall be Mine: I am the LORD.

Explanation: Reiteration of the substitution and divine ownership (אֲנִי יְהוָה), emphasizing theological grounding: the Levites belong to God and serve in place of the firstborn.

Verse 48:

Paraphrase: And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the redemption money from the firstborn who exceed the Levites; five shekels a head, after the shekel of the sanctuary; and give the money to Aaron and his sons.”

Explanation: Because the firstborn outnumber the Levites, they are not taken by force; instead a פְּדִיּוֹן is required. The rate is fixed at five shekels per excess firstborn, measured by the shekel of the sanctuary (שֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ), ensuring uniform ritual currency and fairness. The funds are assigned to the priestly household (אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו), linking redemption to priestly maintenance.

Verse 49:

Paraphrase: Moses took the redemption money from those that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites.

Explanation: Moses carries out the command: collection follows census. The phrase highlights the administrative sequence-count, calculate, collect.

Verse 50:

Paraphrase: From the number that were over and above them that were redeemed he took five shekels a head, after the shekel of the sanctuary.

Explanation: Restates the arithmetic rule to make the procedure explicit and legally binding: 5 shekels per surplus firstborn using sanctuary standard.

Verse 51:

Paraphrase: And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites, even one thousand three hundred and sixty‑five shekels, and gave the money to Aaron and his sons, as יְהוָה - the LORD commanded Moses.

Explanation: The final accounting: 273 × 5 = 1,365. Moses delivers 1,365 shekels to Aaron and his sons, completing the ritual and administrative cycle: Divine command, census calculation collection priestly transfer.

My Closing Message:

This passage may short but theologically dense: it secures the Levites’ role while providing a concrete, equitable mechanism (פְּדִיּוֹן) for any surplus firstborn.

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Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

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And Remember ...

Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”

For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,

He is the one who gave us our Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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