John Calvin Commentary 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 a hundred thirty and seven years." — Exodus 6:16 (ASV)

And these are the names of the sons of Levi. Because it was especially desirable to know the origin of Moses and Aaron, he refers to it at greater length and more distinctly enumerates the families that descended from the patriarch Levi. This was not to attribute any particular dignity to his own race, but to make it appear more clearly that the people were not brought out by any stranger. Instead, he, who was to be the witness among his brethren of the power, grace, and truth of God, was divinely chosen from the genuine stock of Abraham.

And certainly it was right that this incomparable blessing of God, more than any other, should not only be celebrated but also proven, so that its certainty and its memory might be preserved in all ages.

But how remote from any ambitious feeling the design of Moses was in this narrative, we may gather from a single part of it: where he says that he was the offspring of his father’s aunt.⁷⁶ For although the law had not yet forbidden illicit marriages, nature itself dictated that it was improper for a nephew to have relations with his aunt, who stands in the position of his mother.

Therefore, when Moses does not hesitate to confess that he came from an incestuous marriage, he not only fails to protect his own reputation but openly proclaims the disgrace of his parents, solely to illustrate the glory of God.

Nor was ignorance excusable—even though the law was not yet written—for neglecting the distinction between right and wrong by violating natural modesty.

But because people are too prone to indulge in such licentiousness, it was necessary to prohibit in express terms these shameful desires, which have almost always prevailed immoderately and extensively among Eastern peoples.

Meanwhile, we may learn that imitating the patriarchs is not safe when we think we may indiscriminately adopt everything they did.

The fact that in their long lives, Levi, Kohath, and Amram fathered so few children (namely, the first, three; the second, four; and the third, two) did not occur without God’s design. This was so that in the incredible fertility that afterwards followed, the miracle of His grace might appear more clearly. For who would have thought it could happen that in less than 200 years, such an immense multitude could spring from so few people?

Nor did this happen by human planning. Instead, after God, according to His custom, had seemed to mock them in their humble and contemptible beginnings, His power was more brightly manifested by their sudden and unusual multiplication.

I pass over some points that seem to be of little or no importance.

⁷⁶ Jeremy Taylor, on the Rule of Conscience, Book 2., Rule 3, says, “Amram, the father of Moses, begat him of his cousin-german Jochabed. That she was his aunt, is commonly supposed; but the LXX., and the vulgar Latin, report her to be his aunt’s daughter, though, by the style of the Hebrews, she was called his aunt.” — Ed. Heber. 1839, vol. 12, p. 330. Corn.. a Lapide, also, in , also, in Exodus 2:1, trusting to the same authorities, and the Chaldee Paraphrast, rejects the scoff of , trusting to the same authorities, and the Chaldee Paraphrast, rejects the scoff of C., as he calls it, in alleging that Moses sprang from an incestuous marriage.., as he calls it, in alleging that Moses sprang from an incestuous marriage.