Levi, son of Jacob and father of the Levites, did. And it all started with a dream.
Two days after a particularly vivid dream, Levi and his brother Judah went to their grandfather, Isaac. Imagine the scene: the weight of generations, the hushed anticipation, as Isaac bestowed a blessing upon Levi, a blessing that echoed the very words from his dream. Not just Levi, though. Jacob, his father, also had a vision. In it, he saw Levi destined to be a priest of God, so much so that Jacob set aside a tenth of his possessions for the Lord through him.
According to Legends of the Jews, after they settled in Hebron, where Isaac resided, the patriarch himself took on the role of mentor. He taught Levi the laws of the priesthood, emphasizing above all, the importance of remaining pure. You can almost feel the weight of this responsibility being passed down, can't you?
Life continued, and Levi's story unfolded. At twenty-eight, he married Milcah, and they had a son. He named him Gershom, a name that carries the echo of their experience: "because we were strangers in the land" (Exodus 2:22). But Levi, in his wisdom, sensed Gershom wouldn't rise to great prominence.
Seven years later, at thirty-five, his second son arrived, born at sunrise. Levi saw him in a vision, standing tall amongst the leaders. This son he named Kohath. What did Levi see in this sunrise vision? Was it something about Kohath’s character, or perhaps a glimpse of the future role his descendants would play? We can only imagine the pride and hope a parent feels when envisioning such a future for their child.
Five years after that, at forty, Levi's wife bore him a third son. This birth was difficult, so he named him Merari, "because bitter had been her travail in bearing him." Names, in ancient tradition, held so much meaning, didn't they? They were prophecies, blessings, and reflections all rolled into one.
But Levi's story doesn't end with his sons. His daughter, Jochebed, holds a special place in Jewish history. She was born in Egypt, when Levi was sixty-three. He named her Jochebed, "because I was known honorably among my brethren in those days." A sign of his established status, even in a foreign land.
And here's where the family saga takes a dramatic turn. In Levi's ninety-fourth year, Amram, who was born on the very same day as Jochebed, took her as his wife. Yes, Amram, son of Kohath and Jochebed, Levi's daughter. A marriage between aunt and nephew, permissible at that time but later forbidden. It was from this union that Moses and Aaron, the leaders of the Exodus, would descend.
What does Levi's story tell us? It's a story of dreams and visions, of lineage and legacy. It’s a reminder that our actions, our names, and even our dreams can ripple through generations, shaping the future in ways we can't even imagine. It's a potent reminder of the enduring power of family, faith, and the profound impact of a single life lived with purpose.