Gershom
“A stranger there”
Summary
A name meaning 'stranger there,' most notably borne by the firstborn son of Moses and Zipporah, born during Moses' exile in Midian.
☩Gershom Son of Moses
Gershom was the elder of two sons born to Moses by his wife Zipporah during his years in Midian, the younger being Eliezer. Moses explained the name saying, 'I have been a stranger in a strange land.' Gershom remained under the care of his grandfather Jethro while Moses led the Exodus from Egypt, later rejoining his father in the wilderness. Despite being the son of the great lawgiver, Gershom and his descendants held only the rank of ordinary Levites, while the priesthood passed to the sons of Moses' brother Aaron.
☩Descendants of Gershom
Shebuel, a descendant of Gershom, was appointed ruler of the treasuries under King David. A more notorious descendant was Jonathan, who served as priest to Micah's idolatrous image and subsequently became priest to the tribe of Dan at their northern sanctuary. The Hebrew text names his father as Moses, though later scribes inserted a suspended letter to read 'Manasseh,' reportedly to avoid dishonoring Moses by association with idolatry.
Related Verses14 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Gershom," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Gershom," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Gershom," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Gershom," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 5.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Gershom," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).