Libni

Libni is a Levitical name borne by two men in the Hebrew genealogies. The first is a son of Gershon and ancestor of the Libnite clan within the Gershonite division; the second is a grandson of Merari several generations later. Both names sit in priestly muster lists and Chronicler genealogies rather than in narrative episodes.

Son of Gershon

Libni appears first as the elder son of Gershon, Levi's firstborn. The Exodus household register pairs him with his brother: "The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families" (Ex 6:17). The Sinai census restates the same pairing: "And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei" (Nu 3:18). The Chronicler's parallel preserves the relationship under the alternate spelling Gershom — "And these are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei" (1Ch 6:17) — and then carries the line forward one generation at a time: "Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son" (1Ch 6:20).

The Libnites

Libni's descendants form one of the two Gershonite clans counted in the wilderness. The first numbering at Sinai records: "Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites: these are the families of the Gershonites" (Nu 3:21). A generation later, on the plains of Moab, the Libnites are still on the roster of Levitical families: "These are the families of Levi: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. And Kohath begot Amram" (Nu 26:58).

Descendant of Merari

A second Libni stands in the Merarite line, several generations downstream from his namesake. The Chronicler's Merarite list reads: "The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son" (1Ch 6:29). The pairing of Libni and Shimei recurs here, but the parentage is Merari through Mahli rather than Gershon, marking this Libni as a distinct individual within the priestly tribe.