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Gershon גֵּרְשׁוֹן

Male Tribe of Levi H1648 6 books

Firstborn son of Levi; head of the Gershonite Levites.

Biography

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.

Family

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Offspring

In Scripture

6 biblical books ; 3 with study content
Genesis 1 verse Study available Open full Genesis study →
Exodus 2 verses Study available
  • Exodus 6:16

    "These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari; and the years of the life of Levi were one hundred thirty-seven years."

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  • Exodus 6:17

    "The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families."

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Numbers 5 verses
  • Numbers 3:17

    "These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari."

  • Numbers 3:18

    "These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei."

  • Numbers 3:21

    "Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites. These are the families of the Gershonites."

  • Numbers 3:25

    "The duty of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting shall be the tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting,"

  • Numbers 4:22

    "“Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ houses, by their families;"

1 Chronicles 5 verses
  • 1 Chronicles 6:1

    "The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari."

  • 1 Chronicles 23:6

    "David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari."

  • 1 Chronicles 15:7

    "of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and his brothers one hundred thirty;"

  • 1 Chronicles 6:16

    "The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari."

  • 1 Chronicles 6:17

    "These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei."

Joshua 3 verses Study available
  • Joshua 21:6

    "The children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Asher, out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan."

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  • Joshua 21:27

    "They gave to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Be Eshterah with its pasture lands: two cities."

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  • Joshua 21:33

    "All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their pasture lands."

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2 Chronicles 1 verse
  • 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;"

Names & Aliases

Form Language Script Strong's
Named Hebrew גֵּרְשׁוֹן H1648
(same form as previous) Hebrew גֵּרְשׁוֹן H1648
(same form as previous) Hebrew גֵּרְשׁוֹן H1648
Spelled Hebrew גֵּרְשֹׁם H1647H
(same form as previous) Hebrew גֵּרְשֹׁם H1647H
Group Hebrew גֵּרְשֻׁנִּי H1649
(same form as previous) Hebrew גֵּרְשֻׁנִּי H1649