What does Exodus 6:24 mean?
ESV: The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the clans of the Korahites.
NIV: The sons of Korah were: Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite clans.
NASB: And the sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites.
CSB: The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These are the clans of the Korahites.
NLT: The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. Their descendants became the clans of Korah.
KJV: And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites.
NKJV: And the sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These are the families of the Korahites.
Verse Commentary:
After the genealogy (Exodus 6:14) arrives at Aaron (Exodus 6:23), it now records more about Korah. He was the son of Izhar, son of Kohath (Exodus 6:18). He was the father of three sons named Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. Korah died in a rebellion in the wilderness (Numbers 16), though his sons did not die with him (Numbers 26:11). The Korahites later served as temple gatekeepers (1 Chronicles 9:19) and were noted in the titles of some of the Psalms (Psalm 42:1; 44—49; 84—85; 87—88).
First Chronicles 6:22–23 calls Elkanah the grandson of Korah rather than his son. A second man named Elkanah would later be the father of Samuel (1 Chronicles 6:27). The chronology in 1 Chronicles 6:22 offers more details, sharing, "The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son." It appears Korah's "sons" means all of his descendants, rather than only direct offspring. This was common in early biblical genealogies.
Verse Context:
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.
Chapter Summary:
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.
Chapter Context:
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).
Book Summary:
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.
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