בראשית, פרק מ״ו, פסוק י״א

As the family of Jacob journeys down to Egypt, the detailed registry of descendants includes the three sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. These three men hold a significant place in the future of the nation, as they would eventually become the founding patriarchs of the primary families that make up the Israelite tribe of Levi [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Because of the historical importance of this registry, there is a strict tradition regarding exactly how these names are recorded. Careful attention has always been given to preserving the precise phrasing of this list, ensuring that no extra connecting letters or words were accidentally added by later printers. This exactness relies on ancient scribal records that track exactly how many times specific name combinations appear throughout the Torah, guaranteeing the absolute accuracy of the family record [מנחת שי].