Levi
Levi (Hebrew: לוי, Lēvî; "joining"), (2248 AM]]–2385 AM) (1756-1620 BC), was the third son of Jacob and Leah. He is the ancestor of the Tribe of Levi, one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The prophet Moses and his brother, Aaron, were descendants of Levi.
The Bible states his lifespan: 137 years. The only other brother for whom the Bible gives a definite lifespan is Joseph.
A Display of Anger
- Main Article: Dinah
In 2272 AM (1732 BC), his sister Dinah strayed from camp near the city of Shalem, in the region of Shechem.(Genesis 33:18 (KJV)) The local prince (also named Shechem) saw her and took her by force. Afterward, the prince was in love with Dinah and asked his father, King Hamor, to negotiate a marriage between him and Dinah.
Hamor approached Jacob and suggested a treaty involving mutual intermarriage. Jacob's sons said that they would accept this, on condition that all the men of the city circumcise themselves. King Hamor agreed to this.
Three days later, Simeon and Levi carried out their actual plan: they attacked the city by night, when the men of the city were still sore from the circumcisions, and killed the men, including Hamor and Shechem. They also took Dinah out of the prince's house and brought her back to camp. They returned with their brothers to plunder the city, capturing wealth, flocks, herds, women & children, and anything else of value.
The next morning, Jacob struck camp and left the region. He rebuked his sons sternly for an act that would risk retaliation and annihilation. Simeon and Levi, unrepentant and defiant, said that the only other choice they had would be to treat Dinah as if she were a harlot. (Genesis 34 )
Entry into Egypt
In 2298 AM (1706 BC), Levi, together with his father, entered Egypt. He was about 50 years old at the time and had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Death
Levi lived for eighty-seven more years in Egypt, and died in 2385 AM (1620 BC). He is assumed to have had one more child born to him in Egypt: a daughter, Jochebed.
Reference
- James Ussher, The Annals of the World, Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2003, pghh. 120, 153.
See Also
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