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Numbers 3:47 - Redemption through sacred shekels

Numbers 3:47 - במדבר 3:47

Hebrew Text

וְלָקַחְתָּ חֲמֵשֶׁת חֲמֵשֶׁת שְׁקָלִים לַגֻּלְגֹּלֶת בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ תִּקָּח עֶשְׂרִים גֵּרָה הַשָּׁקֶל׃

English Translation

thou shalt take five shekels for every man, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gera:)

Transliteration

Velakachta chamishet chamishet shekalim lagulgoleth beshekel hakodesh tikach esrim gera hashekel.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְלָקַחְתָּ֗ חֲמֵ֧שֶׁת חֲמֵ֛שֶׁת שְׁקָלִ֖ים לַגֻּלְגֹּ֑לֶת בְּשֶׁ֤קֶל הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ תִּקָּ֔ח עֶשְׂרִ֥ים גֵּרָ֖ה הַשָּֽׁקֶל׃
וְלָקַחְתָּ֗ חֲמֵ֧שֶׁת חֲמֵ֛שֶׁת שְׁקָלִ֖ים לַגֻּלְגֹּ֑לֶת בְּשֶׁ֤קֶל הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ תִּקָּ֔ח עֶשְׂרִ֥ים גֵּרָ֖ה הַשָּֽׁקֶל׃

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Parasha Commentary

The Command of Five Shekels for Redemption

The verse (Bemidbar 3:47) commands taking five shekels for each firstborn male to redeem them, using the sacred shekel of the Sanctuary. Rashi explains that this mitzvah applies specifically to the firstborn of Israel who needed redemption after the sin of the Golden Calf, when their original sanctity was transferred to the Levites. The five-shekel amount is derived from the Torah's earlier statement (Vayikra 27:6) regarding the redemption value of a child between one month and five years old.

The Sacred Shekel Measurement

The "shekel of the sanctuary" refers to a standardized weight used for all holy contributions, as Rambam discusses in Hilchot Shekalim (1:1). This prevented disputes about measurements. The Talmud (Bekhorot 50a) notes that all shekels mentioned in the Torah refer to this sacred measurement. The specification of twenty gera per shekel comes to exclude any other weight standard from being used for this mitzvah.

Symbolism of Five Shekels

Several commentators find significance in the number five:

  • The Midrash Tanchuma (Korach 12) connects it to the five books of Torah, suggesting the firstborn are redeemed through Torah study.
  • Rabbeinu Bachya sees an allusion to the five senses that require sanctification.
  • The Kli Yakar suggests it corresponds to the five times "firstborn" is mentioned in the Exodus narrative (Shemot 13:2,12,13,15).

Halachic Implications

The Mishnah (Shekalim 2:4) discusses practical aspects of collecting these shekels, emphasizing they must be of pure silver. The Rambam (Hilchot Bikkurim 11:5) rules that this redemption applies in all generations, not just in the wilderness. The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 305) details the procedures for pidyon haben (redemption of the firstborn) based on this verse.

Contemporary Application

Today, this mitzvah is observed through the pidyon haben ceremony, where a Kohen receives five silver coins (equivalent to the ancient shekel weight) to redeem a firstborn son. The Chazon Ish (Yoreh De'ah 187:1) discusses modern weight equivalents, establishing that five standard silver dollars fulfill the mitzvah's requirements.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Bekhorot 50a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the redemption of firstborn sons and the calculation of the shekel.
📖 Arakhin 24b
The verse is cited in a discussion about the value of the shekel and its subdivisions in the context of vows and dedications to the Temple.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Numbers 3:47 mean?
A: Numbers 3:47 refers to the redemption price for firstborn Israelite males. The Torah commands that every firstborn male must be redeemed by paying five shekels of the sanctuary shekel (a holy currency used in the Mishkan/Temple). This mitzvah is known as 'Pidyon HaBen' and is still practiced today in Orthodox Judaism.
Q: Why is the shekel mentioned as 'the shekel of the sanctuary'?
A: The 'shekel of the sanctuary' (שֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ) was a standardized holy currency used for all Temple-related matters. Rashi explains that this ensured fairness and consistency in fulfilling commandments, as regular shekels could vary in weight or purity. The Torah emphasizes using this sacred measure for mitzvot like Pidyon HaBen.
Q: How much is five shekels in modern terms?
A: The five sanctuary shekels equaled 20 gerah (as stated in the verse). While exact modern equivalents vary, Halacha (Jewish law) follows the opinion of the Rambam that the minimum redemption amount is 96 grams of pure silver (based on the sanctuary shekel's weight). A rabbi should be consulted for the current Pidyon HaBen calculation.
Q: Who needs to fulfill Pidyon HaBen today?
A: According to Halacha, Pidyon HaBen applies to a firstborn Jewish male born naturally (not via C-section) to parents who are neither Kohanim nor Levi'im. The ceremony is performed when the baby is 30 days old, as derived from this verse and explained in the Talmud (Bechorot 49a).
Q: What is the spiritual meaning behind redeeming the firstborn?
A: The Midrash teaches that this mitzvah commemorates the sanctity of Israelite firstborns who were saved during the Exodus (when Egyptian firstborns died). By redeeming them with silver, we acknowledge that their lives ultimately belong to Hashem. The Zohar adds that it symbolizes transferring spiritual responsibility to the Kohanim who serve in the Temple.