While Levi Lived There Was No Bondage in Egypt

"And the total of the persons that came out of the loins of Jacob was seventy persons" (Exodus 1:5), and of Esau it is written "all the persons of his household" (Genesis 36:6). "And Joseph was in Egypt" (Exodus 1:5), he saw a new world (written in remez 49). "And Joseph died, and all his brothers" (Exodus 1:6). You have no one shorter of days among the tribes than Joseph, and none among the tribes who lived longer than Levi. For as long as Levi was alive, Israel was not enslaved in Egypt, as it is said, "And Joseph died, and all his brothers, and all that generation, and the children of Israel were fruitful" (Exodus 1:6-7). It is found that from the death of Levi until Israel left Egypt was one hundred and sixteen years, and there were not more years of bondage than this, nor fewer than eighty-six, like the years of Miriam, who was named for the bitterness [maror]. Rav Judah said in the name of Rav: three things shorten a person's days (written in remez 66). "And Joseph died, and all his brothers." Reuben was born on the fourteenth of Kislev and died at one hundred and thirty-five years. Simeon was born on the twenty-eighth of Tevet and died at one hundred and twenty years. Levi was born on the sixteenth of Nisan and died at one hundred and thirty-seven years. Judah was born on the fifteenth of Sivan and died at one hundred and nineteen years. Dan, on the ninth of Elul, died at one hundred and twenty-five years. Naphtali was born on the fifth of Tishrei and died at one hundred and thirty-three years. Gad, on the tenth of Marheshvan, died at one hundred and twenty-five years. Asher, on the twentieth of Shevat, died at one hundred and twenty-three years. Issachar was born on the tenth of Av and died at one hundred and twenty-two years. Zebulun, on the seventh of Tishrei, died at one hundred and ten years. Benjamin was born on the eleventh of Marheshvan and died at one hundred and fifteen years. In Iyar and Shevat none were born. There remained Ephraim and Manasseh.