Exodus 6:14

14 These be the princes of the houses by their families. The sons of Reuben, the first begotten of Israel (Israel's first-born); Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these be the kindreds of Reuben.

Exodus 6:14 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 6:14

These be the heads of their father's houses
Not of the families of Moses and Aaron, but of the children of Israel, though only the heads of three tribes are mentioned; and some think that these three are taken notice of, to show that they were not rejected of God, though they seem to be rather cursed than blessed by Jacob; and that though they were guilty of very great crimes, as Reuben of incest, and Simeon and Levi of murder, yet they truly repented, and obtained mercy of God, and were honoured in their offspring, of whom an account is here given; but the two first seem to be taken notice of for the sake of the third, and that order might be observed, and that it might plainly appear that the deliverers of Israel were Israelites:

the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, Hanoch, and Pallu,
Hezron, and Carmi;
whose names, and the order in which they are put, are the same as in ( Genesis 46:9 ) these be the families of Reuben; the heads of them, or from whence they sprung.

Exodus 6:14 In-Context

12 Moses answered before the Lord, Lo! the children of Israel hear not me; and how shall Pharaoh hear, mostly since I am uncircumcised in lips? (Moses answered the Lord, and said, Lo! the Israelites will not listen to me; how then shall Pharaoh listen to me, especially since I am such a poor speaker?)

13 And the Lord spake to Moses and to Aaron, and he gave (them) behests to the sons of Israel, and to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, that they should lead out the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt. (Yea, the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them his commands concerning the Israelites, and Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, namely, that they should lead the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.)

14 These be the princes of the houses by their families. The sons of Reuben, the first begotten of Israel (Israel's first-born); Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these be the kindreds of Reuben.

15 The sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Saul (and Shaul), the son of a woman of Canaan; these be the kindreds of Simeon.

16 And these be the names of the sons of Levi by their kindreds; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. Forsooth the years of the life of Levi were an hundred and seven and thirty.