Amram עמרם
leader of his generation in Egypt, father of Moshe, Aharon and Miriam
Amram is the son of Kehat and grandson of Levi. The Torah says only, «a man of the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi», naming Amram and Yocheved later. He lived 137 years.
The sages call him the leader of his generation, which is why midrash places a dramatic episode with him: when Pharaoh ordered newborn boys thrown into the Nile, Amram divorced his wife — why bear children for death? — and the whole generation followed. Then his daughter Miriam said, «Your decree is worse than Pharaoh's: he condemned only the boys, you condemn boys and girls alike.» Amram accepted his daughter's argument, remarried Yocheved, and everyone followed him back. From that remarriage Moshe was born.
The Talmud lists Amram among the few who died without sin of their own. His children — Miriam, Aharon and Moshe — were prophetess, high priest and leader: rarely has one household shaped a nation's fate so completely.