Shemos 2:1 · unit 3 — a daughter of Levi

Parashas Shemos

The Complete Passuk

וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ אִ֖ישׁ מִבֵּ֣ית לֵוִ֑י וַיִּקַּ֖ח אֶת־בַּת־לֵוִֽי׃

And a man of the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi.

Chabad.org — 2:2

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sotah 12a (verified).

Sefaria — Sotah 12a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text

את בת לוי — אפשר בת מאה ושלשים שנה הוית וקרי לה בת?

English: “A daughter of Levi” — is it possible that she was one hundred and thirty years old and yet is called a “daughter”?

On the daf / in context: The verse’s use of “bas” for Yocheved at an advanced age is noted; the midrash resolves the tension by emphasizing her youthful vitality or the Torah’s deliberate language of daughterhood.

Type of Learning

Custom — diyuk on the term bas.

What Is Learned

Chazal highlight the extraordinary vitality of Yocheved, still called “daughter” at one hundred thirty.