Numbers 4:38
And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers,
Original Language Analysis
וּפְקוּדֵ֖י
And those that were numbered
H6485
וּפְקוּדֵ֖י
And those that were numbered
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
1 of 6
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
בְּנֵ֣י
of the sons
H1121
בְּנֵ֣י
of the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
2 of 6
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
לְמִשְׁפְּחוֹתָ֖ם
throughout their families
H4940
לְמִשְׁפְּחוֹתָ֖ם
throughout their families
Strong's:
H4940
Word #:
4 of 6
a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
Historical Context
Gershonites camped west of the tabernacle (3:23), positioned behind the tabernacle during Israel's march. Their service role—transporting fabrics rather than sacred objects—required different skills (fabric care, weather protection) than Kohathite duties, demonstrating God's varied distribution of service assignments.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's pattern of elevating younger sons (Kohath over Gershon) challenge cultural assumptions about seniority and inheritance?
- What would change in modern church culture if we recovered the biblical sense of corporate responsibility for individual faithfulness?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The sons of Gershon—Named after Levi's firstborn (Genesis 46:11), the Gershonites handled the tabernacle's fabric components: curtains, coverings, and hangings (4:24-26). Though firstborn, Gershon's descendants held secondary status to Kohathites, illustrating God's sovereign right to reverse birthright expectations (Jacob over Esau, Ephraim over Manasseh, David over his brothers).
Throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers—The dual classification (מִשְׁפְּחֹת, mishpachot and בֵּית אֲבֹתָם, beit avotam) provided both tribal identity and accountability structure. This ensured no one served anonymously; each worker's faithfulness or failure reflected on his entire household, cultivating corporate responsibility that American individualism often misses.