Numbers 3:17-20
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This simple listing of Levi's sons isn't just a genealogical record; it establishes the foundational structure for the entire Levite service. These three names – Gershon, Kohath, and Merari – represent the three distinct branches that would carry out the crucial tasks associated with the Tabernacle, showing how even the most basic family lines were divinely ordained for ministry.
And these were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon and Kohath and Merari. And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei. And the sons of Kohath by their clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. And the sons of Merari by their clans: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites, by their fathers’ houses.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In this passage, Moses is taking a census of the Levites, the tribe set apart to serve God at the Tabernacle. This listing of Levi's sons—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari—establishes the foundational divisions within the tribe that will be further detailed in the following verses, organizing them for their specific duties and encampment arrangements.
Who were the Levites, and why is their family tree so important in Scripture? This verse lays the groundwork for understanding their unique role.
The Patriarchal Roots
Numbers 3:17 introduces us to the three foundational sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. These aren't just names; they represent the ancestral heads from whom the entire tribe of Levi descended. Understanding these three lines is crucial because the entire tribe was set apart for sacred service within Israel.
A Tribe Set Apart
While other tribes had their roles in conquest and settlement, the Levites' primary purpose was to serve God at the Tabernacle and later the Temple. This distinction began with Levi's sons, forming the basic structure for the specialized duties that would later be assigned to their descendants. Their lineage wasn't just for historical record; it was the organizational chart for God's chosen servants.
Why were the Levites chosen for service? This verse is the starting point for a divine exchange that set them apart from all other Israelites.
A Unique Calling
The genealogy in Numbers 3 isn't just about family trees; it's about divine selection. The Levites were chosen to be God's special possession, set apart from the rest of Israel. This wasn't based on their merit but on God's sovereign choice, replacing the firstborn sons of every other tribe.
Service Rooted in Redemption
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This choice was deeply connected to the Passover event and the smiting of the firstborn in Egypt. God claimed the firstborn of Israel as His own, but then He gave the Levites to Himself instead of the firstborn. This exchange highlights that their service was a response to God's redemptive act and His claim on their lives. The lineage provided in Numbers 3:17 thus traces the very people who would carry out this unique, divinely appointed service.
Understand the original words
Levi · Hebrew Proper Noun
The son of Jacob and Leah, whose descendants were set apart by God for priestly service and the care of the Tabernacle in Israel.
mishpachah · Hebrew Noun
A social and structural unit in ancient Israel, typically tracing descent to a common patriarch; often denoting groups bound by kinship, inheritance, and shared responsibilities.
beit 'av · Hebrew Noun phrase
A designation indicating the patriarchal lineage and household structure of the tribes, emphasizing continuity and covenant identity within the family of Israel.
Levi · Hebrew Noun
A group dedicated to the service of God at the sanctuary, distinguished from the rest of the tribes of Israel by their unique role in maintaining the Tabernacle and its holy objects.
c. 1800 BC
Jacob's Son Levi
Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, has three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, who become the progenitors of the Levite clans.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites leave Egypt, taking their Levite clans with them. The Levites are set apart by God for service at the Tabernacle.
c. 1445 BC— this verse
Census and Census of Levites
God commands Moses to take a census of the Levites, distinct from the other Israelite tribes. This chapter details the lineage and numbering of the Levites.
c. 1405 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Following the wilderness wandering, the Levites are given cities throughout the conquered land of Canaan to dwell in.
c. 975 BC
Temple Construction
King Solomon builds the First Temple in Jerusalem, and the Levites, organized by their families, are given specific roles in its service and maintenance.
538 BC
Return from Exile
After the Babylonian exile, the Levites, particularly the descendants of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, return to Jerusalem and help rebuild the Temple.
This passage also lists the sons of Levi (Gershon, Kohath, and Merari) as they went down to Egypt, showing the foundational lineage of this important tribe.
1 Chronicles 6:16-19Here we see the same three sons of Levi listed again, further detailing their lineage and the subsequent divisions of the Levites who would serve in the Temple.
Numbers 1:47-54This section explains that the Levites were set apart to serve God and to assist the priests, distinguishing them from the other tribes and highlighting their unique role in Israel.
Hebrews 12:22-24This New Testament passage speaks of a spiritual 'Mount Zion' and a heavenly Jerusalem, populated by the 'spirits of the righteous made perfect,' alluding to the ultimate fulfillment of God's people serving Him, echoing the foundational service of the Levites.
gillNumbers 3:17: "And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari."
And these were the sons of Levi, by their names,.... The immediate offspring and descendants of that patriarch: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari; these went down with him into Egypt, Genesis 46:11.
pulpitNumbers 3:17: "And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari."
Verse 17. - These were the sons of Levi. These genealogical notices are inserted here in order to give completeness to the account of the Levites in the day of their dedication.
This simple listing of Levi's sons isn't just a genealogical record; it establishes the foundational structure for the entire Levite service. These three names – Gershon, Kohath, and Merari – represent the three distinct branches that would carry out the crucial tasks associated with the Tabernacle, showing how even the most basic family lines were divinely ordained for ministry.
In this passage, Moses is taking a census of the Levites, the tribe set apart to serve God at the Tabernacle. This listing of Levi's sons—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari—establishes the foundational divisions within the tribe that will be further detailed in the following verses, organizing them for their specific duties and encampment arrangements.
In this passage, Moses is taking a census of the Levites, the tribe set apart to serve God at the Tabernacle. This listing of Levi's sons—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari—establishes the foundational divisions within the tribe that will be further detailed in the following verses, organizing them for their specific duties and encampment arrangements.
"And these were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon and Kohath and Merari. And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei. And the sons of Kohath by their clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. And th…" — This simple listing of Levi's sons isn't just a genealogical record; it establishes the foundational structure for the entire Levite service. These three names – Gershon, Kohath, and Merari – represe…
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Last reviewed October 2026
