The Gershonites were one of the three main divisions of the Levites, the tribe set apart for religious duties and service to the Tabernacle in ancient Israel. The Levites were descendants of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and the Gershonites specifically descended from Levi's eldest son, Gershon (also spelled Gershom in some translations). The role and responsibilities of the Gershonites are detailed in several passages of the Old Testament, particularly in the books of Exodus, Numbers, and Chronicles.

Genealogy and Origin

Gershon was the firstborn son of Levi, as recorded in Genesis 46:11: "The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari." The descendants of Gershon, therefore, formed one of the three main clans of the Levites, alongside the Kohathites and the Merarites. The Gershonites are further divided into two main family groups: the Libnites and the Shimeites, as noted in Numbers 3:21: "To Gershon belonged the clans of the Libnites and the Shimeites; these were the Gershonite clans."

Duties and Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the Gershonites were related to the care and transportation of the Tabernacle's fabrics and coverings. Numbers 3:25-26 outlines their duties: "The duties of the Gershonites at the Tent of Meeting were to care for the tabernacle and tent, its coverings, the curtain at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, and the ropes—all the service for these items."

In Numbers 4:24-28, further instructions are given regarding their service: "This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport: They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with its covering and the outer covering of fine leather, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain for the entrance to the gate of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the ropes, and all the equipment for their service. The Gershonites are to perform all tasks related to these items."

Allocation and Support

The Gershonites, like other Levites, did not receive a territorial inheritance in the Promised Land. Instead, they were given specific cities and pasturelands within the territories of other tribes. Joshua 21:27-33 lists the cities allocated to the Gershonites, which included Golan in Bashan and Beeshterah from the half-tribe of Manasseh, as well as other cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali.

The support for the Gershonites, as with other Levites, came from the tithes and offerings of the Israelites. Numbers 18:21 states, "Behold, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the work of the Tent of Meeting."

Historical Context and Significance

The Gershonites played a crucial role in the religious life of Israel during the wilderness wanderings and the period of the Judges. Their service ensured the proper maintenance and transport of the Tabernacle, which was central to Israelite worship and the presence of God among His people. The division of labor among the Levite clans, including the Gershonites, highlights the organized and communal nature of worship in ancient Israel, emphasizing the importance of each clan's contribution to the whole.

In the broader narrative of Scripture, the Gershonites exemplify the theme of service and dedication to God's commands, reflecting the broader calling of the Levites to be set apart for the Lord's work. Their faithful execution of duties underscores the importance of obedience and reverence in the worship of God, principles that resonate throughout the biblical text.GERSHON; GERSHONITES

gur'-shon, gur'-shon-its (gereshon, written also gereshom): Firstborn of the 3 sons of Levi (Exodus 6:16 Numbers 3:17 1 Chronicles 6:1, 16; 1 Chronicles 23:6). He had two sons, Libni, also known as Ladan (1 Chronicles 23:7; 1 Chronicles 26:21), and Shimei (Exodus 6:17 Numbers 3:18 1 Chronicles 6:17, 20), and consequently two groups of descendants, enumerated in the census taken in the Wilderness of Sinai (Numbers 3:21) and that in the Plains of Moab (Numbers 26:57). In the distribution of functions among the Levites, the Gershonites were charged with the carrying of the curtains, coverings, screens, hangings, cords and instruments of the tabernacle and the tent of meeting on the journeys in the wilderness, under the supervision of Ithamar the son of Aaron. Their function was thus more exalted than that of the Merarites, who carried the boards, and less so than that of the Kohathites, who carried the most holy utensils and symbols. The Gershonites were given two wagons with four oxen-half as many as the Merarites, according to their service (Numbers 7:7). Thirteen cities were assigned to the Gershonites in Northern Palestine by Eleazar and Joshua (Jos 21:6, 27-33, 6:62, 71-76).

Among the Gershonites who achieved distinction in later Biblical times was the family of Asaph, the singers from the time of David to the days of the Second Temple (1 Chronicles 6:31-47; 1 Chronicles 25:1-7; 15:7, 17, 19; 16:5, 7 2 Chronicles 25:15 Ezra 2:41; Ezra 3:10 Nehemiah 11:17, 22; Nehemiah 12:35 1 Chronicles 9:15). Other Gershonites named are the heads of the fathers' houses in the days of David in connection with the dividing of the Levites into courses (1 Chronicles 23:7-11); the superintendents of the treasuries of the house of the Lord of the same time (1 Chronicles 26:21, 22; 1 Chronicles 29:8); and, finally, Gershonites are mentioned among those who cleansed the house of the Lord in the days of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:12, 13).

Ella Davis Isaacs

1649. Gereshunni -- descendant of Gershon
... 1648, 1649. Gereshunni. 1650 . descendant of Gershon. Transliteration: Gereshunni
Phonetic Spelling: (gay-resh-oon-nee') Short Definition: Gershonites. ...
/hebrew/1649.htm - 6kGershonites (17 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia GERSHON; GERSHONITES. gur'-shon,
gur'-shon-its (gereshon, written also gereshom): Firstborn of the ...
/g/gershonites.htm - 14k

Gershonite (14 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Numbers 3:21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family
of the Shimeites: these are the families of the Gershonites. ...
/g/gershonite.htm - 10k

Gershon (23 Occurrences)
... In the wilderness the sons of Gershon had charge of the fabrics of the taber.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GERSHON; GERSHONITES. ...
/g/gershon.htm - 16k

Merarites (7 Occurrences)
... They with the Gershonites and the Kohathites had charge of the tabernacle, which
they had to carry from place to place (Numbers 3:20, 33-37; 4:29-33). ...
/m/merarites.htm - 10k

Kohathites (18 Occurrences)
... The Kohathites formed one of the three divisions of the tribe of Levi; the other
two being the Gershonites and the Merarites (Numbers 3:17). ...
/k/kohathites.htm - 15k

Merari (38 Occurrences)
... thus sharing in the honor of those who immediately surrounded the tabernacle-the
south side being given to the Kohathites, the west to the Gershonites, and the ...
/m/merari.htm - 23k

Families (272 Occurrences)
... Numbers 3:21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of
the Shimeites: these are the families of the Gershonites. ...
/f/families.htm - 38k

Clans (120 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Numbers 3:21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family
of the Shimeites: these are the families of the Gershonites. (See NIV). ...
/c/clans.htm - 34k

Ko'hathites (19 Occurrences)
... Numbers 26:57 These are those who were numbered of the Levites after their families:
of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the ...
/k/ko'hathites.htm - 11k

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)
... Numbers 26:57 These are those who were numbered of the Levites after their families:
of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the ...
/k/kohathite.htm - 12k

Who were the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the sons of Korah in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Ithamar in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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