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Numbers 3 · a question people ask

Why do "the generations of Aaron and Moses" list only Aaron's sons?

In the text

The heading names both: "Now this is the history of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai" (3:1). But the list that follows is "the names of the sons of Aaron" (3:2-3), and no son of Moses is named. Numbers 3 doesn't say why. Moses' sons are named elsewhere: Gershom and Eliezer (Exodus 18:3-4). 1 Chronicles sets the two families side by side: "Aaron was separated that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons forever" (1 Chronicles 23:13). "But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi" (1 Chronicles 23:14).

The verses

“Now this is the history of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai. These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office.”
Numbers 3:1-3 · World English Bible
“and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land”. The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword.””
Exodus 18:3-4 · World English Bible
“The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister to him, and to bless in his name forever. But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.”
1 Chronicles 23:13-14 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Numbers 3

Numbers 3: Instead of the firstborn

The Levites were taken "instead of all the firstborn" (3:12), because the firstborn were the LORD's from the day he struck Egypt's firstborn (3:13). The 273 firstborn beyond the Levites' number were redeemed at five shekels each (3:46-47). And in Hebrew, the "strange fire" (3:4) and the "stranger" who comes near (3:10) are the same word.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions