Exo 6:16-20 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Exod 6:16-20: 6:16-20 This genealogy of Levi’s descendants focuses on Aaron and Moses ; four generations are given in the genealogy from Levi to Aaron and Moses (cp. Gen 15:16 ). Since the people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years (see Exod 12:40-41 ; Gen 15:13 ), this genealogy skips numerous generations. In Gen 46:11 , Gershon, Kohath, and Merari are listed as the actual sons of Levi who moved down to Egypt with their father and the rest of Jacob’s family. Amram ’ s wife, Jochebed, gave birth to his sons (Exod 6:20 ). This is very concrete language, so there is no reason to believe that there were unnamed generations between Amram and Aaron and Moses . This suggests that the unnamed generations were between Kohath (son of Levi) and Amram (father of Aaron and Moses).

a6:16-20►

bGen 15:16►

cExod 12:40-41►

dGen 15:13►

eGen 46:11►

fExod 6:20►

g6:18►

h6:20-25►

i6:23-24►

j6:25►

kNum 16:1-3►

‏ Exodus 6:16-20

Summary for Exod 6:16-20: 6:16-20 ^a This genealogy of Levi’s descendants focuses on Aaron and Moses; four generations are given in the genealogy from Levi to Aaron and Moses (cp. Gen 15:16 ^b). Since the people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years (see Exod 12:40-41 ^c; Gen 15:13 ^d), this genealogy skips numerous generations. In Gen 46:11 ^e, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari are listed as the actual sons of Levi who moved down to Egypt with their father and the rest of Jacob’s family. Amram’s wife, Jochebed, gave birth to his sons (Exod 6:20 ^f). This is very concrete language, so there is no reason to believe that there were unnamed generations between Amram and Aaron and Moses. This suggests that the unnamed generations were between Kohath (son of Levi) and Amram (father of Aaron and Moses).
6:18 ^g The descendants (literally sons) of Kohath included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel: The Hebrew word for “sons” can also mean “descendants,” which accommodates the possibility of unnamed generations.
Summary for Exod 6:20-25: 6:20-25 ^h The descendants of Kohath’s sons now become the focus of the genealogy. The families of Aaron son of Amram and Korah son of Izhar are given a more detailed listing (6:23-24 ⁱ), followed by one of Aaron’s sons, Eleazar (6:25 ^j). The focus is clearly on Aaron’s line through Eleazar, who received the high priesthood. The fact that Aaron and Korah were cousins makes it easier to see why Aaron’s elevation to high priesthood was so galling to Korah (see Num 16:1-3 ^k); family rivalry is nothing new. The later rebellion might explain why Korah and his sons are given particular mention in this genealogy.