Numbers 26:60

Study note

Setting — The narrator records this genealogical entry during the second Israelite census at the plains of Moab, documenting Aaron’s family for the community. The statement functions as a formal record of the priestly lineage immediately after listing Jochebed’s children and before detailing the next generation’s duties.

The words — וַיּוּלֵד (va-yullēd) translates literally to "and it was born" or "and they were born," while לְאַהֲרֹן (lə-ʾahărōn) means "to Aaron." The phrasing grammatically positions Aaron as the parent from whom these sons originate, using a passive verb construction common in Hebrew genealogies.

The thread — The text cross-references the same four sons in Numbers 3:2, which lists them by birth order, and Numbers 3:8, which assigns them priestly duties. The genealogical record in Numbers 26 mirrors the earlier priestly commissioning to maintain continuity of lineage across the census narrative.

Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to acknowledge the established priestly line before encountering its subsequent judgments and responsibilities. It demands precise tracking of familial succession without offering commentary on the sons’ later actions.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.