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레위인과 그들의 가축은 이스라엘의 맏아들과 가축의 맏배를 대신하여 하나님의 몫으로 구별됩니다. 레위인이 대속하지 못한 273명의 맏아들은 속전을 내야 합니다.

[ 민수기 3:40 - 3:51 ] (찬송265장)

40여호와께서 또 모세에게 이르시되 이스라엘 자손의 처음 태어난 남자를 일 개월 이상으로 다 계수하여 그 명수를 기록하라 41나는 여호와라 이스라엘 자손 중 모든 처음 태어난 자 대신에 레위인을 내게 돌리고 또 이스라엘 자손의 가축 중 모든 처음 태어난 것 대신에 레위인의 가축을 내게 돌리라 42모세가 여호와께서 자기에게 명령하신 대로 이스라엘 자손 중 모든 처음 태어난 자를 계수하니 43일 개월 이상으로 계수된 처음 태어난 남자의 총계는 이만 이천이백칠십삼 명이었더라

 44여호와께서 모세에게 말씀하여 이르시되 45이스라엘 자손 중 모든 처음 태어난 자 대신에 레위인을 취하고 또 그들의 가축 대신에 레위인의 가축을 취하라 레위인은 내 것이라 나는 여호와니라 46이스라엘 자손의 처음 태어난 자가 레위인보다 이백칠십삼 명이 더 많은즉 속전으로 47한 사람에 다섯 세겔씩 받되 성소의 세겔로 받으라 한 세겔은 이십 게라니라 48그 더한 자의 속전을 아론과 그의 아들들에게 줄 것이니라 49모세가 레위인으로 대속한 이외의 사람에게서 속전을 받았으니 50곧 이스라엘 자손의 처음 태어난 자에게서 받은 돈이 성소의 세겔로 천삼백육십오 세겔이라 51모세가 이 속전을 여호와의 말씀대로 아론과 그의 아들들에게 주었으니 여호와께서 모세에게 명령하심과 같았느니라

 도움말

47절) 한 세겔은 약 11.4그램이다.

[ Numbers 3:40 - 3:51 ]

40And the LORD said to Moses, “List all the firstborn males of the people of Israel, from a month old and upward, taking the number of their names.41 And you shall take the Levites for me—I am the LORD—instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the people of Israel.”42 So Moses listed all the firstborn among the people of Israel, as the LORD commanded him.43 And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names, from a month old and upward as listed were22,273.44 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,45 “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. The Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.46 And as the redemption price for the273 of the firstborn of the people of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites,47 you shall take five shekels per head; you shall take them according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel of twenty gerahs),48 and give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are over.”49 So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites.50 From the firstborn of the people of Israel he took the money,1,365 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary.51 And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses. 

Who is God like?

Thinking & Understanding

The people of Israel were supposed to offer all firstborn males to God. But God declared that he would accept the Levites instead of all the firstborns. However, the Levites were 273 men short in comparison to the number of firstborns. God commanded the Israelites to each pay five shekels as a redemption price to make up for this difference. He then gave that money to Aaron and his sons to dedicate to their priestly duties. Moses did everything as the Lord commanded (vv. 40-51). 

Who is God?

Vv. 41, 45 God is Lord of the whole world. This means that he is the ruler and owner of the world. Therefore, all of our belongings are gifts from God and every aspect of our lives is ruled by God. Faith begins with acknowledging God as sovereign. 

What lesson is God teaching me?

Vv. 40-51 The Levites were offered as the firstborns of Israel. They served God by living distinguished lives for the sake of Israel’s holiness. In the same way, Christians are also firstborns who work to make the world holy. Let’s live distinguished lives that do not conform to this world (Rom. 12:2). 

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I pray that you will demonstrate your lordship through every aspect of my life.