We will resume this lesson in Exodus 6:14 “These [be] the heads
of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel;
Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these [be] the families of
Reuben.”
Reuben was listed first because he was the first child of Jacob and
Leah, not because he was a wholesome person, Reuben, in fact, had a
very bad record. He had lain with his father’s concubine, Bilhah.
The best thing we can remember about him was that he saved Joseph’s life
when the brothers wanted to kill him. Reuben’s sons were a mixed lot.
“Hanoch” means initiated, “Pallu” means distinguished, and “Carmi”
means vine dresser.
Exodus 6:15 “And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad,
and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman: these
[are] the families of Simeon.”
Simeon, along with his brother Levi, in trying to avenge the rape
of their sister, had done cruel things, which brought shame to their
father, Jacob. He was known as a cruel, fierce man. “Jemuel” means day
of God. “Jamin” means right hand, “Ohad” means unity. “Jachin” means
He (God) establishes. “Zohar” means whiteness, and “Shaul” means asked
of God. Simeon married a non-Hebrew woman, as we see above.
Exodus 6:16 “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.”
We see here in the family of Levi, that this was the first to
mention the years of the son of Israel. We will see more of this
family as we go along, because of the large part they play in God’s
work. This tribe of Levi was the family Moses and Aaron were born into,
The Levitical tribe (descendents of Levi) would not inherit land,
because they were set aside for duties in the temple. Even though Levi
disappointed Jacob in the cruel act of revenge on the family of the
rapist of his sister, Dinah, God called this family to care and
administer the Holy things in the temple (numbers 3:5) These Levites
were consecrated to Jehovah as His peculiar property, instead of the
firstborn of each family. The lineage was from Levi to Kohath, to
Amram, to Aaron, and Moses. We read that Jochebed, the mother of Aaron
and Moses, was a Levite, as well. So Moses and Aaron were both
Levites. We need, especially, to look at Kohath, because he was the
grandfather of Aaron and Moses. Kohath’s descendents, through Aaron,
were a priestly family. This priestly family’s duties were to bear the
ark and the sacred vessels (Numbers 4:15 and 7:9). We must watch
carefully the family of Levi. They were like ministers who should not
be worldly, but consecrated to God.
Exodus 6:17 “The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to
their families.”
Here, we see this family of Levi specifically went on to the children
and grandchildren, because of their special role they played with God.
Exodus 6:18 “And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and
Hebron, and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath [were] an
hundred thirty and three years.”
In this 18th verse, we see, Amram, the father of Moses, We, also,
see that Kohath lived to be 133. “Izhar” means anointing and “Uzziel”
means God is strength.
Exodus 6:19 “And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi: these
[are] the families of Levi according to their generations.”
This family did not have much written about them.
Exodus 6:20 “And Amram took him Jochebed his father’s sister to
wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of
Amram [were] an hundred and thirty and seven years.”
We see, here, that Amram, the father of Aaron and Moses, married
his aunt on His father’s side. Both Amram and Jochebed were from the
tribe of Levi. Aaron and Moses then had a rich heritage with God
through their parents.
Exodus 6:21 “And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and
Zichri.”
Here again, for our study, this family was not followed closely.
Exodus 6:22 “And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and
Zithri.” Exodus 6:23 “And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of
Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and
Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.”
This Amminadab was prince of the tribe of Judah. His daughter,
Elisheba, would be mother of the priestly tribe of Aaron. This
Naashon, brother of Elisheba, must be taken note of. He was a prince
of Judah, and was the father-in-law of Rahab. Naashon’s son, Salmon,
married Rahab. This Naashon was captain of Judah’s host, and was given
the first place in encampment in the order of the march, when dealing
with the tabernacle. You can read further Scriptures about him in
Numbers 1:7, 1 Chronicles 2:10,11; Matthew 1:4, and Numbers 2:3 .
He,probably, died in the wilderness, since there was no mention of him
after the
wilderness wanderings.
Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, along with Aaron were anointed
to be priests
of the temple.
We read about this in Exodus 28:1.
We will read in Leviticus 10:1, where Nadab and Abihu (probably drunk)
brought strange
fire in the temple, and were killed for this,
Eleazar became high priest at the death of his two brothers.
The priesthood went down through his
family. Ithamar was a priest, also. He took an additional part of the
place of the priesthood when his brothers died. His duty was the
property of the tabernacle, such as the curtains, hangings, pillars,
cords, and boards. You may find this in Exodus 38:21. Ithamar and his
descendents were common priests, until the high priesthood passed to
his family in Eli.
Exodus 6:24 “And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and
Abiasaph: these [are] the families of the Korhites.”
This Korah was jealous of Aaron and his priesthood, and lost his
life for this jealousy. We will read about him more in Numbers. He was
swallowed up, when God opened the earth in punishment of him.
Exodus 6:25 “And Eleazar Aaron’s son took him [one] of the
daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas: these [are]
the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.”
This was just showing the lineage of this priestly tribe. I would
like to mention just one thing in passing. these priests and high
priests were married. It seemed, God was not offended by them being
married. Remember, one more time, that the Levites, through Aaron’s
family, were the priestly tribe.
Exodus 6:26 “These [are] that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD
said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt
according to their armies.”
This has wandered a bit from where Moses was talking to God about
this deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, so, now, we are told,
again, that this Moses and Aaron were the same ones. It is also stated
as fact that they would bring them out.
Exodus 6:27 “These [are] they which spake to Pharaoh king of
Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these [are]
that Moses and Aaron.”
Verse 27 is very similar to verse 26 above.
It is a statement of the fact that Moses and Aaron would lead Israel
out of bondage.
Exodus 6:28 “And it came to pass on the day [when] the LORD
spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,”
Exodus 6:29 “That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I [am] the
LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.”
God, in verse 28 and 29, was reminding Moses that He told him from
the beginning, even out in the wilderness, who He was. He also never
promised Moses that this task was going to be easy. The God of all
eternity, the I AM, is sufficient to carry through any plans that He
has. He even promised Moses that He would tell him exactly what to
say. As we said before, Moses was not responsible for the outcome, but
He was responsible to say; every word that God told him to say to the
Pharaoh on the behalf of these people in the name of God.
Exodus 6:30 “And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I [am] of
uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?”
Perhaps, God told Moses each time over again who He was to build
Moses’ faith. Moses was full of excuses, as many of us are when we are
called to the ministry. I have said this before, but it bears
repeating. Moses and all minister who are really called of God, must
remember that God did not choose us for our great abilities. God wants
us to love Him more than we love anything, or anyone. He wants us to
totally submit ourselves to Him. He will fill us with Himself to the
point that it will not be us speaking, but will rather be “Thus saith
the Lord”. God will give us the place to go, and the words to say once
we get there. The Holy Spirit woos the prospects; and when we preach
the words God gives, these words convict them, and they are saved. We
are not the one who saves (delivers) them, we are just the mouthpiece
for God. All the rest of the work is His. We are only responsible to
say the words He gives us.