The Redemption by Money of the Residue of the First-born. Cf. Numbers 3:12 f. Since the first-born of Israel (22,273) exceed the Levites (22,000, see Numbers 3:39), those in excess are to be redeemed at 5 silver shekels (about 13 s. 9 d.) a head.

Numbers 3:47. Read, after the sacred shekel. This was the ancient Hebrew or Phœ nician weight (224 grains), as contrasted with the later Perso-Babylonian weight, which was lighter (173 · 3 grains): cf. Exodus 30:13 *, p. 116.

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