Exodus 6:14-16

14 These were the heads of their families[a] : The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel were Hanok and Pallu, Hezron and Karmi. These were the clans of Reuben.
15 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clans of Simeon.
16 These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.

Exodus 6:14-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 6

The Lord encourages Moses to hope for success from his name Jehovah, and the covenant he had made with the fathers of his people, Ex 6:1-5, orders him to assure the children of Israel that he would deliver them from their bondage and burdens, and bring them into the land of Canaan; but through their distress and anguish they hearkened not to him, Ex 6:6-9 but Moses is sent again to Pharaoh to demand the dismission of Israel, to which he seems unwilling, and both he and Aaron are charged both to go to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh, Ex 6:10-13, next follows a genealogy of the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, which seems to be given for the sake of Moses and Aaron, and to show their descent, Ex 6:14-15, who were the persons appointed of God to be the instruments of bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt, Ex 6:26-30.

Cross References 6

  • 1. Exodus 13:3; Numbers 1:1; Numbers 26:4; Genesis 46:9
  • 2. S Genesis 29:32
  • 3. S Genesis 29:33; Genesis 46:10; 1 Chronicles 4:24
  • 4. S Genesis 29:34
  • 5. S Genesis 46:11
  • 6. Numbers 3:17; Joshua 21:7; 1 Chronicles 6:1,16

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. The Hebrew for "families" here and in verse 25 refers to units larger than clans.
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