E6-4: The CLAN from which the High Priest will emerge is established

“These were the heads of their families.”-Exodus 6:14

In the middle of Exodus Chapter 6, we are presented with a genealogy of the first three sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, and Levi.

You will notice that this genealogy focuses on the Levites.

The reason is because the whole point of this genealogy was to establish the fact that Moses and Aaron were Levites.

What’s important to understand is that while the tribe of Levi became the priesthood, God would choose only ONE CLAN from this tribe qualified to produce His High Priests.

That would be the Clan of Kohath.

This clan would be further subdivided into the line of Aaron.

So Aaron would be the first high priest.

The other Levite clans would be assigned other duties of “lesser” importance as temple officials.

The genealogical record is being set down here so that later on there will be no question as to who comes from which clan.

Notice verse 14 that says these are the “heads of the families”.

This is not an accurate translation.

The Hebrew word for “head” is ROSH and yes it does indeed mean “head”.

However, based on the societal structure we studied before, ROSH should be translated into CHIEF.

The word “families” is also a mistaken translation.

The original Hebrew is MISHPACHAH.

And MISHPACHAH means “clan“, not “families“.

So verse 14 is really talking about the Chiefs who are the Head of the Clans.

Recall the post about the societal structure of Israel we studied before.

Again a simple breakdown is as follows:

NATION=all of Israel
12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL ruled by PRINCES
CLANS ruled by CHIEFS
HOUSEHOLDS ruled by HEADS
MAN-BY-MAN=nuclear family

NEXT TIME WE BEGIN EXODUS CHAPTER SEVEN