Gershon
“Expulsion, from a root meaning 'to drive out'”
Summary
The eldest of Levi's three sons and ancestor of one of the three main divisions of the Levites.
☩Family
Gershon was the firstborn of Levi's three sons, born before Jacob's family migrated to Egypt. His two sons, Libni (also called Ladan) and Shimei, became heads of the Gershonite families. Though eldest, Gershon's line was eclipsed in prominence by his younger brother Kohath, from whom descended Moses, Aaron, and the priestly line.
☩Levitical Service
At the Sinai census, the Gershonite males numbered 7,500, with 2,630 serving men. They were assigned responsibility for the tabernacle's curtains, coverings, screens, hangings, and cords during wilderness journeys, carrying these on two wagons with four oxen. Their service was more exalted than the Merarites who carried the boards, but less than the Kohathites who carried the holy vessels.
☩Inheritance and Later History
Thirteen cities in northern Palestine were assigned to the Gershonites as their inheritance. The famous musician Asaph was a Gershonite, whose genealogy is preserved in Chronicles. Gershonites participated in the reforms of King Hezekiah, though the sons of Asaph are distinguished from other Gershonites.
Related Verses25 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Gershon," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Gershon; Gershonites," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Gershon," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Gershon," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).