37. the posts of the surrounding courtyard, their bases, pegs and ropes.
38. Those camping in front of the Tent of Meeting, on the east, toward the sunrise, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons. They were to care for the Sanctuary on behalf of Bnei-Yisrael. But anyone unauthorized who approached had to be executed.
39. All the Levites counted by Moses and Aaron at the word of Adonai, by their families, inclusive of every male one month old and upward, were 22,000.
40. Adonai said to Moses, “Count every firstborn male of Bnei-Yisrael from one month old and upward and make a list of their names.
41. Set the Levites apart for me in place of all the firstborn of Bnei-Yisrael, and, all the livestock of the Levites in place of the firstborn of the livestock of Bnei-Yisrael. I am Adonai.”
42. So Moses counted all the firstborn of Bnei-Yisrael as Adonai commanded him.
43. The sum total of the firstborn males of Bnei-Yisrael, one month old and upward, listed by name, was 22,273.
44. Again Adonai spoke to Moses saying,
45. “Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Bnei-Yisrael, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites will be Mine. I am Adonai.
46. To redeem the 273 firstborn of Bnei-Yisrael exceeding the number of the Levites,
47. you are to collect five shekels for each, based on the shekel of the Sanctuary, which is 20 gerahs.
48. Give the money for the redemption of the extra ones of the firstborn of them to Aaron and his sons.”
49. Hence Moses collected the redemption money for those exceeding the number redeemed by the Levites.
50. From the firstborn of Bnei-Yisrael he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels, according to the Sanctuary shekel.
51. Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, just as Adonai commanded him, in accordance with the mouth of Adonai.