Definition: And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.
Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Numbers 3:48 together. It’s a really important part of understanding the Old Testament and its role in Jewish tradition. Here’s what it means in simple terms: “And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.” Basically, this verse tells us that a portion of the money collected during a ritual sacrifice (like a Passover offering) needs to be given to Aaron and his sons. Let's unpack that: “And thou shalt give…” : This is a command from God. It’s like a rule or instruction for how to handle a specific amount of money. “…the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed” : This is the key part! “Odd number” means that they're selecting a group of people (often a specific number) – usually 6, but it could be different – and they need to give some money to each person in that group. The word "redeemed" refers to making something valuable again or purifying it. It’s like returning something to its original state of value. “unto Aaron and to his sons” : This specifies who gets the money. Aaron was a priest, and his sons were part of the priestly family. So, this means that a specific number of people (usually 6) are receiving the money. In simpler terms: God wants to give a portion of the money from a sacrifice to Aaron and his sons to ensure they are cleansed and prepared for their role as priests. It's a symbolic act of purification and preparation for religious duties. Context & Significance: This verse is important because it illustrates: Priestly Roles: It highlights the importance of the priestly class in Jewish life and the rituals they performed. Sacrifice as a Way to Purify: The giving of money to the priests was seen as a way for God to cleanse the people and prepare them for their future relationship with Him. Do you want me to explain anything in more detail, or would you like me to connect this verse to other parts of the Bible? For example, we could talk about: The significance of Aaron’s role as a priest What the "odd number" might represent (e.g., representing a specific family line)