Exodus 6:14-30

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.
17 The sons of Gershon, by clans, were Libni and Shimei.
18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.
19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of Levi according to their records.
20 Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.
21 The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg and Zikri.
22 The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan and Sithri.
23 Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
24 The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite clans.
25 Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These were the heads of the Levite families, clan by clan.
26 It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, “Bring the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.”
27 They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt—this same Moses and Aaron.

Aaron to Speak for Moses

28 Now when the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt,
29 he said to him, “I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you.”
30 But Moses said to the LORD, “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

Exodus 6:14-30 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 27

  • 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
  • 7. Numbers 3:18; 1 Chronicles 6:17
  • 8. Numbers 3:27; 1 Chronicles 23:12
  • 9. Numbers 3:19; 1 Chronicles 6:2,18
  • 10. Numbers 3:20,33; 1 Chronicles 6:19; 1 Chronicles 23:21
  • 11. 1 Chronicles 23:13
  • 12. Exodus 2:1-2; Numbers 26:59
  • 13. 1 Chronicles 6:38
  • 14. Leviticus 10:4; Numbers 3:30; 1 Chronicles 15:8; 2 Chronicles 29:13
  • 15. Ruth 4:19,20; 1 Chronicles 2:10
  • 16. Numbers 1:7; Numbers 2:3; Matthew 1:4
  • 17. Exodus 24:1; Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 10:1
  • 18. Leviticus 10:6; Numbers 3:2,32; Numbers 16:37,39; Deuteronomy 10:6; Joshua 14:1
  • 19. Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 10:12,16; Numbers 3:2; Numbers 4:28; Numbers 26:60; 1 Chronicles 6:3; 1 Chronicles 24:1
  • 20. ver 21; Numbers 16:1; 1 Chronicles 6:22,37; Numbers 26:11
  • 21. Numbers 25:7,11; Numbers 31:6; Joshua 24:33; Psalms 106:30
  • 22. S Exodus 3:10
  • 23. Exodus 7:4; Exodus 12:17,41,51
  • 24. Exodus 5:1
  • 25. Numbers 3:1; Psalms 77:20
  • 26. S ver 2; ver 11; Exodus 7:2
  • 27. S Exodus 3:11; ver 12; Exodus 4:10

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. The Hebrew for "families" here and in verse 25 refers to units larger than clans.
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.