Exodus 6:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.

NASB: And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and the length of Levi’s life was 137 years.

CSB: These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their family records; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.

NLT: These are the descendants of Levi, as listed in their family records: The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (Levi lived to be 137 years old.)

KJV: 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.

NKJV: These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. And the years of the life of Levi were one hundred and thirty-seven.

Levi was the third son of Jacob (Genesis 35:23). Levi had three sons: Gerson, Kohath, and Merari. His age at death is not-ed, as are those of the other men in Moses' and Aaron's direct line. Levi's lifespan is remarkable, living 137 years; Moses lived to 120 years old (Deuteronomy 34:7). Ishmael, Levi's great uncle, also lived to the age of 137 (Genesis 25:17), as did Moses' father Amram (Exodus 6:20). Much more advanced ages were recorded prior to the Noahic flood (Genesis 5). After the flood, it seems that lifespans dropped very quickly (Genesis 11:10–32). Abraham, Levi's great grandfather, lived to 175 (Genesis 25:7).

Because the emphasis of this passage is proving that Moses and Aaron are part of the Levite tribe, the next verse (Exodus 6:17) will expand the family line discussion of Levi. The goal was not to re-record the entire family line of Jacob. Their family history sets them apart for their unique roles: Mo-ses as deliverer (Exodus 18:8) and Aaron as priest (Exodus 29:9).

Exodus 6:14–30 records the genealogies of Moses and his brother, Aaron. This supports that this is part of God's continuous plan to arrive at this very point in history. It also clarifies their status as members of the tribe of Levi. Along the way, God reiterates and re-establishes Moses' commission as His messenger. Moses is still wracked with self-doubt.

God responds to Moses, who struggles to understand recent events (Exodus 5:22–23). Pharaoh has retaliated against the Lord's message about Israel's freedom (Exodus 5:1–9). Here, the Lord repeats His predic-tion that Israel will be freed (Exodus 3:14–22). God's specific identity and relationship to Israel are key to this response. The Lord will fulfill His promises and take the Hebrews from Egypt into the Promised Land. The passage then rec-ords the genealogies of Moses and Aaron. Moses' commission from God is also repeated.

After centuries of enslavement (Exodus 1:11–14), God commissions Moses to be His representative in freeing Israel (Exodus 3:4–10). But when Moses delivers the Lord's message (Exodus 5:1–3), Pharaoh retaliates (Exodus 5:6–9). This leads to infighting (Exodus 5:20–21) and causes Moses to doubt (Exodus 5:22–23). After the Lord offers reassurances in this chapter, He will repeat an account of how the story will play out. Then God begins to bring plagues of judgment against Egypt (Exodus 7).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.