Numbers 4:21-28

B. THE GERSHONITES vv. 21-28
TEXT

Numbers 4:21. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 22. Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families; 23. From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. 24. This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens: 25. And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers-' skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 26. And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them; so shall they serve. 27. At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens. 28. This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

PARAPHRASE

Numbers 4:21. Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 22. Count the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers-' houses, by their families, 23. from thirty years old and up to fifty years old you shall count them: all who enter to perform the service, to do the work in the Tent of Meeting. 24. This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in both serving and carrying: 25. they shall carry the curtains of the Tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting, its covering, and the covering of the goatskin on top of it, and the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting, and the curtain for the court, 26. and the screen for the door of the gate of the court surrounding the Tabernacle and the altar, and their cords and all the equipment for their service, and everything that is made for them; in this manner they shall serve. 27. All the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their duties and all their work, shall be done by the order of Aaron and his sons: you shall appoint all their duty to those in charge. 28. This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting; and their duties shall be under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.

COMMENTARY

Much less complex than the work of the Kohathites were the duties of the second family, the Gershonites. They are tallied for service on the same basis as are the others; from ages thirty to fifty. On the march, they are responsible for the many curtains of the Tabernacle, the Tent itself, and the many coverings they required; they carry also all the screen which filled the door at the eastern Door of the Tent, as well as the bulky hangings which surrounded the outer court and the screen which closed the only opening by which access might be gained into the court. With these, they carried the cords which were used specifically for the erection and solidity of the Tabernacle. In order that there might be no misunderstanding whatever, they are instructed in detail by Aaron and his sons.

Ithamar, who had had a primary assignment during the construction of the Tabernacle (Exodus 38:21), now is placed in oversight of both the Gershonites and the Merarites, although he himself is a Kohathite. We are informed in Numbers 7:7-8 that wagons were assigned for transporting the articles.

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

87.

Compare this passage with Exodus 27, and see more clearly the duty of the Gershonites.

88.

Why did they not carry the veil?

89.

Distinguish between the cords carried by the Gershonites and those for which the Merarites were responsible.