Moses the man of God - "Moses the prophet of God," - T.

Now [concerning] Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the (b) tribe of Levi.
(b) They were but of the order of the Levites and not of the priests as Aaron's sons.

Now concerning Moses the man of God,.... Raised up by him as a prophet, admitted to great familiarity with him, a lawgiver from him, and the ruler and guide of Israel under him through the wilderness:
his sons were named of the tribe of Levi; were only common Levites; Moses had no ambition to gratify; he sought no honour for his posterity; the civil government was left to Joshua, and the priesthood to Aaron.

concerning Moses--His sons were ranked with the Levites generally, but not introduced into the distinctive portion of the descendants of Levi, who were appointed to the special functions of the priesthood.

"But as to Moses the man of God" (cf. Deuteronomy 33:1), "his sons were called after the tribe of Levi," i.e., were reckoned in the ranks of the Levites, not of the priests. On על נקרא, cf. Genesis 48:6; Ezra 2:61; Nehemiah 7:63.

Levi - They were accounted only as common Levites, and were not priests: which is mentioned for the honour of Moses, and the demonstration of his eminent piety and self - denial, who willingly left the government to Joshua, and the priesthood to Aaron, and was content to have his posterity reduced to a private and mean condition.