Levite living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness
Gershon was the firstborn son of Levi and the ancestor of the Gershonite Levites, who were responsible for the tabernacle curtains, coverings, and related duties.
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Also known as Gershon,Gershonite · Gershom · Gershomite · Gershonite,Gershon
Gershon was the firstborn son of Levi, the third son of Israel (or 'Jacob') (Gen.46.11; Exo.6.16). He had two sons, Libni and Shimei, who became the heads of the Gershonite Levite clans (Exo.6.17; Num.3.18, 21; 1Ch.6.17, 20). The Gershonites were one of the three main divisions of the Levites, along with the Kohathites and Merarites (Num.3.17; 1Ch.6.1, 16).
During the wilderness wanderings, the Gershonites were responsible for the tabernacle curtains, coverings, screens, and related duties (Num.3.25-26; 4.24-28). They were counted in the census of the Levites (Num.3.22; 4.38-41) and were given wagons and oxen to transport their assigned parts of the tabernacle (Num.7.7).
In the division of the Promised Land, the Gershonites were allocated thirteen cities across the territories of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and eastern Manasseh (Jos.21.6, 27-33; 1Ch.6.62, 71-76). Notable Gershonites include Asaph, a prominent musician and psalmist in King David's court (1Ch.6.39-43), and Jahath, a Levite leader during the reign of King Hezekiah (2Ch.29.12).
The Gershonites played a significant role in the transportation, setup, and maintenance of the tabernacle, and later in the music and worship of the temple. Their dedicated service, along with that of the other Levite clans, was essential to the proper functioning of Israel's religious life.
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=Ger’shom expulsion, the eldest of Levi’s three sons (Gen. 46:11; Ex. 6:16). In the wilderness the sons of Gershon had charge of the fabrics of the tabernacle when it was moved from place to place, the curtains, veils, tent-hangings (Num. 3: 21-26). Thirteen Levitical cities fell to the lot of the Gershonites (Josh. 21:27-33).
(exile). The eldest of the three sons of Levi, born before the descent of Jacob’s family into Egypt. (Genesis 46:11; Exodus 6:16) (B.C. before 1706.) But, though the eldest born, the families of Gershon were outstripped in fame by their younger brethren of Kohath, from whom sprang Moses and the priestly line of Aaron.
his banishment; the change of pilgrimage
GER'SHON (expulsion), the eldest of Levi's sons, Gen 46:11; Ex 6:16-17; 1 Chr 6:1, and founder of the Gerfihonites. Num 3:21.
GER'SHON (expulsion), the eldest of Levi's sons, Gen 46:11; Ex 6:16-17;
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
34 verses in 6 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H1648
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.
The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, by their clans.
These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
These were the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei.
From Gershon came the Libnite clan and the Shimeite clan; these were the Gershonite clans.
The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle,
and the leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael.
The duties of the Gershonites at the Tent of Meeting were the tabernacle and tent, its covering, the curtain for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,
“Take a census of the Gershonites as well, by their families and clans,
This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport:
All the service of the Gershonites—all their transport duties and other work—is to be done at the direction of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry.
This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
Then the Gershonites were numbered by their clans and families,
These were counted from the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the LORDʼs command.
He gave the Gershonites two carts and four oxen, as their service required,
Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting it.
Now these were the Levites numbered by their clans: The Gershonite clan from Gershon, the Kohathite clan from Kohath, and the Merarite clan from Merari.
The descendants of Gershon received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
This is what the Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: From the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan, a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah—two cities, together with their pasturelands.
In all, thirteen cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the Gershonite clans.
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei.
Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,
the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.
The Gershomites,, according to their clans, were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh in Bashan.
The Gershomites received the following: From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth, together with their pasturelands.
from the Gershomites, Joel the chief and 130 of his relatives;
Then David divided the Levites into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
The Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.
From the descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladan and heads of the families of Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli,
Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD, under the care of Jehiel the Gershonite.
Then the Levites set to work: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah from the Kohathites; Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel from the Merarites; Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah from the Gershonites;
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.