Numbers 3: 44-51 gives instructions for the redemption of those 273 firstborn Israelite males whose number exceeded the number of 22,000 mentioned in verse 39; they were to be redeemed by the Levites. The money was to be paid 'after the shekel of the sanctuary' (verse 47), which was silver (see Leviticus 5: 15 & 27: 6, also Exodus 30: 11-16 & 38: 25-28).

In Exodus 26, the boards of shittim (acacia) wood overlaid with gold speak of the humanity of Christ and His Divinity (gold) resting on sockets of silver. The Divine glory must rest on silver (the ground of redemption) for man to be associated with Him.

This note is referred to in Chapter 11.