Exodus 6:16-19
These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years. The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, the years of the life of Kohath being 133 years. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their generations.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text mentions Levi’s lifespan not just as a biographical detail, but to highlight the remarkable longevity of the ancestors of Moses and Aaron. This extended lifespan points to a special blessing from God on their lineage, especially as their descendants were poised to become a great nation and receive God's law.
Moses is tracing the lineage of the Levites, specifically the descendants of his own great-grandfather, Levi. This detailed genealogy, including the ages of the patriarchs like Levi, Kohath, and Amram, highlights God's blessing and the foundational lines through which the deliverers of Israel, Aaron and Moses, emerged. The text then shifts to the divine commission given to Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
Understand the original words
ben · Hebrew Noun
In a genealogical context, this refers to those born of a particular ancestor, serving to establish lineage, inheritance rights, and covenantal connection. It emphasizes the continuity of God's promise through successive generations.
Levi · Hebrew Proper Noun
The third son of Jacob and Leah. The tribe of Levi was eventually set apart by God for priestly service and the maintenance of the tabernacle.
toledah · Hebrew Noun
This term refers to the process of procreation and the chronological descent of families. In Scripture, it often underscores God's faithfulness to His promises across time.
mishpachah · Hebrew Noun
Groups or families sharing a common ancestry. The clan was a fundamental unit of social and religious organization in ancient Israel, responsible for maintaining tribal integrity and inheritance.
The detailed genealogies and lifespans of Levi's descendants highlight the deep roots of Moses' family in Egypt, emphasizing their long history and connection to the land before the oppression and eventual Exodus.
c. 1876 BC
Jacob's family settles in Egypt
Jacob and his entire family, including his son Levi, move to Egypt to escape famine. They are given land in Goshen.
c. 1840 BC— this verse
Levi's death
Levi, the son of Jacob and father of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, dies at the age of 137 in Egypt.
c. 1840 BC - 1530 BC
Israelite population grows in Egypt
The Israelites multiply greatly in Egypt over several centuries, leading to a new Pharaoh who knows Joseph and fears their numbers.
c. 1530 BC
Israelite enslavement begins
A new dynasty rises in Egypt and begins to oppress the Israelites, forcing them into hard labor and building projects.
c. 1530 BC - 1450 BC
This passage lists the same three sons of Levi (Gershon, Kohath, and Merari), providing a foundational link to the patriarchal family structure.
Numbers 3:17Here, the three sons of Levi are again named as the heads of their respective families, reinforcing their significance within the Levitical lineage and service.
Psalm 90:10This psalm reflects on the shortened lifespans of humanity after the patriarchal era, contrasting with the long lives mentioned for Levi and his descendants in Exodus, suggesting a shift in God's dealings with mankind.
1 Chronicles 6:1This chapter also details the lineage of Levi, again naming Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, and further elaborates on their descendants and their roles in worship.
Exodus 6:20This verse directly follows the mention of Levi's sons, naming Amram (son of Kohath) and his wife, and ultimately leading to the birth of Moses and Aaron, highlighting the direct line of descent and the fulfillment of God's plan through this lineage.
bensonExodus 6:16: "And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years."
Exodus 6:16 . The age of Levi, Kohath, and Amram, the father, grandfather, and great-grandfather of Moses, is here recorded; and they all lived to a great age; Levi to one hundred thirty-seven, Kohath to one hundred thirty- three, and Amram to one hundred thirty-seven: Moses himself came much short o…
gillExodus 6:16: "And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years."
And these are the names of the sons of Levi, according to their generations,.... Whose sons, according to the order of their birth, were as follow: Gershom, and Kohath, and Merari; see Genesis 46:11, and the years of the life of Levi were one hundred and thirty seven years; and exactly the same numbe…
The text mentions Levi’s lifespan not just as a biographical detail, but to highlight the remarkable longevity of the ancestors of Moses and Aaron. This extended lifespan points to a special blessing from God on their lineage, especially as their descendants were poised to become a great nation and receive God's law.
Moses is tracing the lineage of the Levites, specifically the descendants of his own great-grandfather, Levi. This detailed genealogy, including the ages of the patriarchs like Levi, Kohath, and Amram, highlights God's blessing and the foundational lines through which the deliverers of Israel, Aaron and Moses, emerged. The text then shifts to the divine commission given to Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
Moses is tracing the lineage of the Levites, specifically the descendants of his own great-grandfather, Levi. This detailed genealogy, including the ages of the patriarchs like Levi, Kohath, and Amram, highlights God's blessing and the foundational lines through which the deliverers of Israel, Aaron and Moses, emerged. The text then shifts to the divine commission given to Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
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Levi · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A member of the tribe of Levi. They were specifically designated to perform duties related to the Tabernacle (later the Temple), carrying out the work of the Lord on behalf of the people of Israel.
Generations of Israelite enslavement
The Israelites endure generations of brutal slavery under Egyptian rule, as described in the narrative leading up to the Exodus.
"These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years. The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, He…" — The text mentions Levi’s lifespan not just as a biographical detail, but to highlight the remarkable longevity of the ancestors of Moses and Aaron. This extended lifespan points to a special blessing…
