The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.
Exodus belongs to the book whose Greek name means the going out, referring to the departure of Israel from Egypt. It belongs to the history division of Exodus in chapters 1 to 18, within the account in chapters 1 to 12 of God's call to the kingdoms of the earth three and one-half millenniums ago. Its setting is when Egypt ruled the world as the greatest kingdom in might and power and skill and wisdom in statecraft, made fruitful by its river and by the sun which with the river it worshiped, while its kings bore the title as representatives of the sun-god. By then the few descendants of the nomadic patriarch Abraham had sought supplies from Egypt's granaries and dwelt in Egypt, where Joseph the captive slave had become prime minister, taught Pharaoh to store grain in plenteous years, instituted its land law, and secured prosperity without oppression as long as his memory was honored. From beginning as a comfortable and prosperous family settled in Egypt, Israel had grown more and mightier than the Egyptians.
The verse stands at the opening of Israel's deliverance when Israel is in bitter bondage and oppression with the whole power of Egypt set against them. More narrowly it stands within chapters 5 to 10, which tell of the interviews with Pharaoh, the contest with his magicians, and the infliction of the plagues. It stands before God's mighty saving work of creative power, greater than was ever done in saving any nation, that ends with Israel's song of triumph on the farther side of the Red Sea with Egypt's host overthrown. It is part of the story of their great deliverance and becoming a nation with thorough organization, efficient leadership, a complete code of laws, and an established form of worship, centered in the life of Moses as the chosen leader of Israel from his rescue in infancy onward. The verse names Libni and Shimi as sons of Gershon, identifying one branch of Levi's descendants and the family divisions of the Levites.
Exodus belongs to the book whose Greek name means the going out, referring to the departure of Israel from Egypt. It belongs to the history division of Exodus in chapters 1 to 18, within the account in chapters 1 to 12 of God's call to the kingdoms of the earth three and one-half millenniums ago. Its setting is when Egypt ruled the world as the greatest kingdom in might and power and skill and wisdom in statecraft, made fruitful by its river and by the sun which with the river it worshiped, while its kings bore the title as representatives of the sun-god. By then the few descendants of the nomadic patriarch Abraham had sought supplies from Egypt's granaries and dwelt in Egypt, where Joseph the captive slave had become prime minister, taught Pharaoh to store grain in plenteous years, instituted its land law, and secured prosperity without oppression as long as his memory was honored. From beginning as a comfortable and prosperous family settled in Egypt, Israel had grown more and mightier than the Egyptians.
The verse stands at the opening of Israel's deliverance when Israel is in bitter bondage and oppression with the whole power of Egypt set against them. More narrowly it stands within chapters 5 to 10, which tell of the interviews with Pharaoh, the contest with his magicians, and the infliction of the plagues. It stands before God's mighty saving work of creative power, greater than was ever done in saving any nation, that ends with Israel's song of triumph on the farther side of the Red Sea with Egypt's host overthrown. It is part of the story of their great deliverance and becoming a nation with thorough organization, efficient leadership, a complete code of laws, and an established form of worship, centered in the life of Moses as the chosen leader of Israel from his rescue in infancy onward. The verse names Libni and Shimi as sons of Gershon, identifying one branch of Levi's descendants and the family divisions of the Levites.