About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand.  In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form. 

The book of Numbers

This book was written in 1444-1405 BC. The name comes from the census when Moses counted the people.  It tells about the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness for 39 years.  It starts when the Israelites are at Mt. Sinai.  It tells about their travels through the wilderness. It ends in the plains of Moab just before the Israelites enter Canaan. 

The book of Numbers tells about 2 generations of Israelites. The 1st generation did not obey God and could not enter Canaan. The 2nd generation obeyed God, and they were allowed to go into Canaan. 

Please visit this page to see where the book of Numbers fits into the whole Bible. 

Numbers 1 - 3
God tells Moses to count the Israelite men old enough to fight in war
God tells how the Israelites should camp around the tabernacle
The tribe of Levi will help the priests 

Numbers 1


The Israelites were still at the mountain Sinai. The Lord God talked to Moses in the tabernacle. It was the 2nd year after they left Egypt, and it was the 1st day of the 2nd month. God told Moses to count all of the male Israelites. They should count the males in each tribe and family.  They should make a list of all of the males who were 20 years old and older. These men could fight in a war.  
[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
[2] Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls;
[3] From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.


1 man from each tribe should help Moses count. God told Moses which men should help.  These are the helpers and the names of their tribes. 

 
[4] And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.
[5] And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.
[6] Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
[7] Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
[8] Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
[9] Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.
[10] Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
[11] Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.
[12] Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
[13] Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.
[14] Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
[15] Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.



These men were leaders of their tribes.  Moses, Aaron, and these men began the census and counted people.  
[16] These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
[17] And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:



The census was on the 1st day of the 2nd month. Everyone came together with their families. The leaders counted all of the men who were 20 years old and older. These men could be soldiers and fight in wars. 
[18] And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.
[19] As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

[20] And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
[21] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
[22] Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
[23] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
[24] Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
[25] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.
[26] Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
[27] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
[28] Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
[29] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
[30] Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
[31] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
[32] Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
[33] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.
[34] Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
[35] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
[36] Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
[37] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
[38] Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
[39] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
[40] Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
[41] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.
[42] Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
[43] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
[44] These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers.
[45] So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;
[46] Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

The tribe of Levi's special job


The tribe of Jacob's son, Levi, was not counted in the census. God told Moses not to count them.  The Levites would not fight in a war. Their job was to take care of the tabernacle. They would take care of the things in the tabernacle. They should camp around the tabernacle.
[47] But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.
[48] For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying,
[49] Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:
[50] But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.


When the Israelites moved to a new place, the Levites would take the tabernacle tent down. After they stopped at a new place, the Levites would put the tabernacle tent up again. If anyone else came close to the tabernacle, that person would die.
[51] And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

 

The Illustrated Parallel Bible (1872) by Jones From Blue Letter Bible.com

The Israelites should camp in groups with their tribes.  They should have a big banner (flag) with their tribe's name on it. They should camp under their tribe's banner. 
[52] And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.



The Levite's place to camp is around the tabernacle.  They will keep the tabernacle safe so that no one will go near it. That would make God very mad. 
[53] But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.


The Israelites did what God told them to do.
[54] And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.

Numbers 2


The camps around the tabernacle


God talked to Moses and Aaron about how the Israelites should camp.  They should camp in groups of their families around the tabernacle, but not too close to the tabernacle.  They should have a banner or flag with the symbol for their family ancestor (one of Jacob's sons).
[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
[2] Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.


The camps were around the tabernacle. The tabernacle was in the middle. God told Moses and Aaron where each tribe should camp.

Camps on the east side of the tabernacle--the side of the camp where the sun comes up in the morning.


Judah's camp was on the east side. 3 tribes were in this camp: Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.  Nahshon was the leader of the tribe of Judah. There were 74,600 men old enough for war in the tribe of Judah.
[3] And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.
[4] And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.


The tribe of Issachar was next to the tribe of Judah. Nethaneel was the leader of the tribe of Issachar.  There were 54,400 men old enough for war in the tribe of Issachar.
[5] And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar.
[6] And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.


The tribe of Zebulun was next to the tribe of Issachar. Eliab was the leader of the tribe of Zebulun.  There were 57,400 men old enough for war in the tribe of Zebulun.
[7] Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.
[8] And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.


The whole camp of Judah had 186,400 men in the army.  They will march first when the Israelites move to a new camp.
[9] All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.

Camps on the south side of the tabernacle


Reuben's camp was on the south side of the tabernacle.  There were 3 tribes in Reuben's camp: Reuben, Simeon, and Gad.


The leader of the tribe of Reuben was Elizur. There were 46,500 men in Reuben's tribe who could fight in a war.
[10] On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
[11] And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.


The tribe of Simeon was next to the tribe of Reuben.  The leader of the tribe of Simeon was Shelumiel. There were 59,300 men in the tribe of Simeon who could be in the army.
[12] And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
[13] And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.


The tribe of Gad was next to the tribe of Simeon.  Eliasaph was the leader of the tribe of Simeon. There were 45,650 men in the army of Gad.
[14] Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.
[15] And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.


The whole camp of Reuben had 151,450 men in the army.  They would march second when the Israelites moved to a new camp.
[16] All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.

The Levites will march third


When the Israelites move to a new camp, the Levites from the tribe of Levi will march behind the camp of Reuben.  They will carry the tabernacle tent and equipment with them. 
[17] Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.

Camps on the west side of the tabernacle


Ephraim's camp was on the west side of the tabernacle.  There were 3 tribes in Ephraim's camp:  Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin.

The leader of the tribe of Ephraim was Elishama. There were 40,500 men who could fight in the tribe of Ephraim. 
[18] On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.
[19] And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.

The leader of the tribe of Manasseh was Gamaliel.  There were 32,200 men who could fight in the tribe of Manasseh. 
[20] And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
[21] And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.


The leader of the tribe of Benjamin was Abidan. There were 35,400 men who could fight in the tribe of Benjamin. 
[22] Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.
[23] And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.

The whole camp of Ephraim had 108,100 men who could be in the army.  When the Israelites march to a new camp, they will march behind the Levites.
[24] All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.

Camps on the north side of the tabernacle.


Dan's camp was on the north side of the tabernacle. There were 3 tribes in Dan's camp:  Dan, Asher, and Naphtali.


The leader of the tribe of Dan was Ahiezer.  There were 62,700 men who could fight in the tribe of Dan.
[25] The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
[26] And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.


The leader of the tribe of Asher was Pagiel. There were 41,500 men who could fight in the tribe of Asher.
[27] And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.
[28] And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.


The leader of the tribe of Naphtali was Ahira.  There were 53,400 men in the tribe of Naphtali who could fight in a war.
[29] Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.
[30] And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.


The whole camp of Dan had 157,600 men who could fight in a war.  When the Israelites marched to a new camp, they would march last.
[31] All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.

In all of the camps, there were 603,550 men who could be in the army. 
[32] These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.


The total number did not include the Levites.  God told Moses not to count them. 
[33] But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.


The Israelites obeyed God. They marched and camped the way He told them.
[34] And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.

Numbers 3


The tribe of Levi will help the priests


Aaron had 4 sons:  Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.  When God talked to Moses earlier on Mt. Sinai, all 4 sons became priests.  But later, Nadab and Abihu did not obey God, and God killed them. This happened back in the book of Leviticus 10 (click on the link if you want to read the story again).  Nadab and Abihu did not have any children.  Aaron's other 2 sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, became priests. 
[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.


God talked to Moses.  He told Moses that the tribe of Levi will help the priests. They will work for Aaron and his sons, and they will work for all of the Israelites in the tabernacle. 
[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.

The Levites will take care of the equipment in 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.


The Levites are given to Aaron and his sons to help them. 
[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.


Aaron and his sons are the priests. If anyone else tries to be a priest, they will die. 
[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.


God talked to Moses.  When God killed all of the firstborn in Egypt, He said that all of the firstborn Israelite sons and firstborn animals would be His. But now it is different. All of the Levites will belong to God instead of the firstborn sons from all of the tribes. 
[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.

Counting the tribe of Levi


While they were still at Mt. Sinai, God told Moses to count the Levites. Moses should count them by the names of their fathers. 

Levi had 3 sons:  Gershon, Kohath, and Merari

Gershon had 2 sons:  Libni and Shimei.
Kohath had 4 sons:  Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
Merari had 2 sons:  Mahli and Mushi

[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.

Moses, Aaron, Aaron's sons, and the Levite tribes camped close around the tabernacle.

The family of Levi's son Gershon

Gershon had 2 sons:  Libni and Shimei.   Libni's family was called the Libnites.  Shimei's family was called the Shimites.  Both families together were called the Gershonites. In the Gershonites, there were 7,500 males who were 1 month old and older. 
[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.


The Gershonites should camp in the back of the tabernacle on the west side.  The leader of the Gershonites was Eliasaph. Eliasaph's father's name was Lael.
[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.


The Gershonites were responsible for taking care of the tabernacle tent. They were responsible for all of the curtains and the coverings on the outside of the tabernacle.
[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.

The family of Levi's son, Kohath

Kohath had 4 sons:  Amram, Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These families made these tribes:  the Amramites, the Izeharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites. The whole Kohathite family had 8,600 males who were age 1 month and older. 
[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.


The Kohathites should camp on the south side of the tabernacle.  The leader of the Kohahites was Elizaphan.  Elizaphan's father was Uzziel. 
[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.


The Kohathites will be in charge of the things in the tabernacle:  the ark, the table, the candlestick, the altars, the equipment used in the tabernacle, and the curtain that hung between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. 
[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.


Aaron's son Eleazar will be in charge of the Levites. He will supervise everything done at the tabernacle.
[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.

The family of Levi's son, Merari

Merari had 2 sons:  Mahli and Mushi.  Mahli's descendants were called the Mahlites.  Mushi's descendants were called the Mushites. The whole family of Merari had 6,200 males who were age 1 month and older. 
[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.


The leader of the family of Merari was Zuriel. Zuriel's father was Abihail.  This family would camp on the north side of the tabernacle. They will be in charge of the wooden and metal parts of the tabernacle--the boards, the holders for the boards, the crossbars, and the posts. They are also responsible for the poles, holders, pegs, and ropes in the outer walls around the tabernacle tent.
[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.

Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons camping place

Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons would camp on the east side of the tabernacle.  They will be in charge of the tabernacle.  They will do the work of the tabernacle for the Israelites. If anyone else tries to do the work, he will be killed. 
[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.

The total

The total number of males 1 month or older in the Levite tribe was 22,000. 
[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.

God told Moses to count all of the firstborn males in all families.  They should count the males who were 1 month old and older. They should also make a list of their names. 
[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.


God is the Lord. When He killed all of the firstborn in Egypt, He said that all of the firstborn Israelite sons and animals would be His. But now it is different. All of the Levites and their animals will belong to God instead of the firstborn sons and the animals from all of the tribes. 
[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.


Moses obeyed God and counted the firstborn males from all families. There were 22,273.
[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.


God spoke to Moses.  Moses counted the Levites, and Moses counted the firstborn males from all families. There were 273 more firstborn males from all families than Levites.  God would accept the Levites instead of the firstborn males from all families.  But the Israelites must redeem or buy back the 273 extra firstborn males. 
[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;

They should pay 5 shekels (silver coins) for each extra firstborn male. The shekels should weigh the same as the shekels in the tabernacle. 
[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:)


They should give the money to Aaron and his sons, the priests.  
[48] And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.


Moses collected the money for redeeming.  The total amount of money was 1,365 shekels. Moses gave the money to Aaron and his sons because that is what God told him to do.
[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.