Bible Dictionary: Gershonites

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

Strong's Hebrew

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 - 6k

Thesaurus

Gershonites (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

Bible Concordance

Gershonites (17 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.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Numbers 3:23 The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Numbers 3:24 The prince of the fathers' house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 3:25 In the Tent of meeting, the Gershonites are to have the care of the House, and the Tent with its cover, and the veil for the door of the Tent of meeting,
(BBE NIV)

Numbers 4:22 Take the sum of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers' houses, by their families;
(See NIV)

Numbers 4:24 "This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in bearing burdens:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Numbers 4:26 and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and whatever shall be done with them. Therein shall they serve.
(See NIV)

Numbers 4:27 At the commandment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burden, and in all their service; and you shall appoint their duty to them in all their responsibilities.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Numbers 4:28 This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting: and their duty shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV)

Numbers 7:7 Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service.
(See NIV)

Numbers 10:17 And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who bore the tabernacle, set forward.
(See NIV)

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 Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Joshua 21:27 And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with the open land about it, the city of refuge for the manslayer; and Beeshterah with the open land about it; two cities.
(See RSV NIV)

Joshua 21:33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 23:7 Of the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 26:21 The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers' houses belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 29:12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath, the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Gershonites

Related Terms

Gershonite (14 Occurrences)

Gershon (23 Occurrences)

Merarites (7 Occurrences)

Kohathites (18 Occurrences)

Merari (38 Occurrences)

Families (272 Occurrences)

Clans (120 Occurrences)

Ko'hathites (19 Occurrences)

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)