Keraia
Numbers 18

Numbers 18:16

Offerings for Priests and Levites · Numbers 18:8–32
Read Numbers 18

Translations

Modern
You are to pay the redemption price for a month-old male according to your valuation: five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which is twenty gerahs.
Traditional
And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.
Literal
And their ransomed ones from a son of a month, you shall redeem according to your valuation for silver, five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; it is twenty gerahs.
Latin
…cujus redemptio erit post unum mensem, siclis argenti quinque, pondere sanctuarii. Siclus viginti obolos habet.

Original

Hebrew
English
You are to pay the redemption price for a month-old male according to your valuation: five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which is twenty gerahs.

Notes

Numbers 18:15–16

The Lord supported the Hebrew priests and their families from the offerings set aside for him. The priests received firstborn animal offerings and the redemption fee for Israel’s firstborn sons. People had to redeem both firstborn sons and the offspring of unclean animals with a silver fee, since they could not sacrifice either one (see 3:13, 40–51; Exodus 13:2).

Numbers 18:1–32

The instructions here came from the need shown in chapter 17 for clear boundaries between the people, priests, and Levites. The Levites had special privileges and important responsibilities. One key part of their job was to protect the Tent of Meeting from unauthorized entry (chapter 16).

Measurements

  • five shekels of silver: About 2 oz (57 g)
  • twenty gerahs: About 0.4 oz (11.4 g)

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of Firstborn Firstfruits Inheritance Numbers, Book of Ransom Redeemer, Redemption Weights and Measures

Topics

Firstborn: Redemption of Money: Silver Used As Offerings: Heave: Given to the Priests' Families As Part of Their Benefits Priest: Benefits of of the Firstborn Priest: Benefits of Portions of Sacrifices and offerings Priest: Benefits of Tithes of the Tithes Priests: Revenues of Redemption-Money of the First-Born The First Born of Clean Beasts: Law of Redemption For