Jochebed

JOCHEBED, the wife of Amram, and mother of Miriam, Moses and Aaron. Several difficulties are started concerning the degree of relation between Amram and Jochebed. Ita Hebræi. Test. xii. Patriarch. Tostat. Usser. alii.Some assert, that Jochebed was the daughter immediately of Levi, and aunt to Amram her husband. This opinion they ground upon the Hebrew text, Exod. ii. 1. and vi. 20. and Numb. xxvi. 59. where she is called the daughter of Levi. Others maintain, that she was only cousin-german to Amram, being the daughter of one of Kobath’s brethren. The Chaldee upon Chap vi. 20. of Exodus says, that she was the daughter of Amram’s sister; and the Septuagint, that she was daughter to the same Amram’s brother. דודה Doda.The Hebrew text Doda, which we read here, does not always denote the same degree of relation between persons; and by the daughter of Levi may be understood either an immediate daughter, or a person descended from Aaron. So that neither the text of Scripture, nor the authority of Interpreters, who are so divided in their opinions, can determine this question. Nevertheless it seems to me most probable, that Jochebed was no more than cousin-german to Amram. 1. Had she been the immediate daughter of Levi, the disproportion between her age and Amram’s would have been too great. 2. Marriages between the aunt and nephew were forbidden by the Law, and we have no proof that they were allowed before. 3. By the daughter of Levi may be very well meant the grand-daughter, according to the stile of the Hebrews.

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