Numbers 3:1
in Numbers 3This is the account of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Now these are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Jehovah spake with Moses in mount Sinai.
KJV
These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in mount Sinai.
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This verse in Numbers 3
Commentary
5 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The “generations” (see Gen 2:4) now given, though entitled those of Aaron and Moses (Aaron standing first as the older brother), are those of Aaron only. The personal dignity of Moses, though it gave him rank as at the head of his tribe, was not hereditary. He had, and desired to have Num 14:12; Exo 32:10, no successor in his office but the distant prophet like unto himself Deu 18:18. Aaron was the ancestor of a regular succession of priests.
This site's exposition
These also are the generations
on Numbers 3:1-2
The heading promises the generations of Aaron and Moses and the list that follows gives four sons of Aaron and no son of Moses. Barnes reads the omission as the point, since the standing of Moses was personal and left no successor in his office, while Aaron was the head of a line that ran on by birth. Aaron stands before Moses here, which reverses the order the two brothers usually keep, and Wesley ties that to the priesthood being given to Aaron's house alone.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
These . . . are the generations of Aaron and Moses, &c.--This chapter contains an account of their families; and although that of Moses is not detailed like his brother's, his children are included under the general designation of the Amramites (Nu 3:27), a term which comprehends all the descendants of their common father Amram.
The generations of Aaron and Moses - Though Aaron and Moses are both mentioned here, yet the family of Aaron alone appears in the list: hence some have thought that the word Moses was not originally in the text. Others think that the words ואלה תלדות veelleh toledoth, these are the generations, should be rendered these are the acts, or transactions, or the history of the lives, as the same phrase may be understood in Gen 2:4; Gen 6:9. However this may be, it is evident that in this genealogy the family of Aaron are alone mentioned, probably because these belonged to the priesthood. Moses passes by his own family, or immediate descendants; he gave no rank or privilege to them during his life, and left nothing to them at his death. They became incorporated with the Levites, from or amongst whom they are never distinguished. What a strong proof is this of the celestial origin of his religion! Had it been of man, it must have had the gratification of some impure passion for its object; lust, ambition, or avarice: but none of these ever appear during the whole of his administration amongst the Israelites, though he had it constantly in his power to have gratified each. What an essential difference between the religion of the Pentateuch and that of the Koran! The former is God’s workmanship; the latter is a motley mixture of all bad crafts, with here and there a portion of heavenly fire, stolen from the Divine altar in the Old and New Testaments, to give some vitality to the otherwise inert mass.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
NOW THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF AARON AND MOSES IN THE DAY THAT THE ETERNAL SPOKE WITH MOSES IN MOUNT SINAI. “And yet [in the following verse] Scripture only enumerates the sons of Aaron, [as it is said, And these are the names of the sons of Aaron !
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
These are the descendants of Aharon and Moshe on the day that Adonoy spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְאֵ֛לֶּה | veeleh | and these | H428 → | 746 times |
| תּוֹלְדֹ֥ת | toldot | [are] [the] descendants of | H8435 → | 39 times |
| אַהֲרֹ֖ן | ʾaharon | Aaron | H175 → | 347 times |
| וּמֹשֶׁ֑ה | umosheh | and Moses | H4872 → | 765 times |
| בְּי֗וֹם | beyom | on [the] day | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| דִּבֶּ֧ר | diber | [when] he spoke | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| יְהוָ֛ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | with | H854 → | 929 times |
| מֹשֶׁ֖ה | mosheh | Moses | H4872 → | 765 times |
| בְּהַ֥ר | behar | on [the] mountain of | H2022 → | 546 times |
| סִינָֽי׃ | sinai | Sinai | H5514 → | 35 times |
וְאֵ֛לֶּהand these
veelehH428 →746 times
תּוֹלְדֹ֥ת[are] [the] descendants of
toldotH8435 →39 times
אַהֲרֹ֖ןAaron
ʾaharonH175 →347 times
וּמֹשֶׁ֑הand Moses
umoshehH4872 →765 times
בְּי֗וֹםon [the] day
beyomH3117 →2304 times
דִּבֶּ֧ר[when] he spoke
diberH1696 →1141 times
יְהוָ֛הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֶת־with
ʾet-H854 →929 times
מֹשֶׁ֖הMoses
moshehH4872 →765 times
בְּהַ֥רon [the] mountain of
beharH2022 →546 times
סִינָֽי׃Sinai
sinaiH5514 →35 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 1:1This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
it leads to
- Genesis 22:18
And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
- Romans 1:3
regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh,
- Galatians 3:16
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
- Revelation 22:16
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”
- Psalms 132:11
The LORD swore an oath to David, a promise He will not revoke: “One of your descendants I will place on your throne.
- Genesis 22:18
Through
Leviticus 25:1Then the LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai,
it leads to
- Galatians 4:24–25
These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Galatians 4:24–25
Through
Leviticus 27:34These are the commandments that the LORD gave to Moses for the Israelites on Mount Sinai.
it leads to
- Numbers 1:1
On the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Leviticus 26:46
These are the statutes, ordinances, and laws that the LORD established between Himself and the Israelites through Moses on Mount Sinai.
- Numbers 1:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Numbers
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).