Bamidbar 3:17 · EXTRA 1 — these were the sons of Levi
Parashas Bamidbar · Side page (no TT primary unit)
The Complete Passuk
וַיִּֽהְיוּ־אֵ֥לֶּה בְנֵֽי־לֵוִ֖י בִּשְׁמֹתָ֑ם גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן וּקְהָ֖ת וּמְרָרִֽי׃
These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Chabad.org — 3:17
Source Citation
Bamidbar Rabbah — EXTRA.
Core Text of Chazal / Classic Source
Core Textויהיו אלה בני לוי —\ldots שלשה.
English: “And these were the sons of Levi” — \ldots three.
On the midrash / in context: The three primary clans of Levi are named; from them the entire Levitical structure of the desert service descends.
What Is Learned
Chazal identify the three founding houses of the tribe of Levi.