37. and the pillars of the courtyard all around, with their sockets, their pegs, and their ropes.
38. But those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle on the east, in front of the tent of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons. They were responsible for the needs of the sanctuary and for the needs of the Israelites, but the unauthorized person who approached was to be put to death.
39. All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered by the word of the Lord, according to their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000.
40. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Number all the firstborn males of the Israelites from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
41. And take the Levites for me – I am the Lord – instead of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.”
42. So Moses numbered all the firstborn males among the Israelites, as the Lord had commanded him.
43. And all the firstborn males, by the number of the names from a month old and upward, totaled 22,273.
44. Then the Lord spoke to Moses:
45. “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. And the Levites will be mine. I am the Lord.
46. And for the redemption of the 273 firstborn males of the Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites,
47. collect five shekels for each one individually; you are to collect this amount in the currency of the sanctuary shekel (this shekel is twenty gerahs).
48. And give the money for the redemption of the excess number of them to Aaron and his sons.”
49. So Moses took the redemption money from those who were in excess of those redeemed by the Levites.
50. From the firstborn males of the Israelites he collected the money, 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.