Exodus 6:17
“The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families.”
What does Exodus 6:17 mean?
This verse is part of a genealogical record listing the descendants of Levi, one of Jacob's twelve sons. Gershon was Levi's oldest son, and his line split into two main family branches: Libni and Shimei. These family divisions mattered practically in ancient Israel because they determined who had different responsibilities in caring for the tabernacle and its furnishings as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. Genealogies like this one grounded Israel's understanding of their identity and structure, showing that God's people had real history, real families, and real order.