39 The total number of all the Levite males one month old or older that Moses enrolled by clans at the command of the Lord, was 22,000.
40-41 The Lord said to Moses, “All of Israel's firstborn sons belong to me. So register by name every firstborn male Israelite, one month old or older. But in place of them I claim all the Levites as mine! I am the Lord! I also claim the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock.”
42 Moses obeyed, and registered all the firstborn males
43 one month old or older; the total was 22,273.
44 The Lord said to Moses,
45 “Now dedicate the Levites as mine in place of all the firstborn Israelite sons, and dedicate the livestock of the Levites in place of the firstborn of the Israelites' livestock.
46 Since the firstborn Israelite sons outnumber the Levites by 273, you must buy back the extra sons.