We are in Numbers chapter four with our word for today which is a phrase. בְּנֵ֥י גֵרְשׁ֖וֹןthe sons of Gershon, Gershonites. It is used 13 times in the Old Testament, 5 times in our chapter. Our phrase is used to describe the origin of this clan. Exodus 6:17 בְּנֵ֥י גֵרְשׁ֛וֹןThe sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans. Numbers 3:18 And these are the names בְּֽנֵי־גֵרְשׁ֖וֹן of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei. 1 Chronicles 26:21 The sons of Ladan, בְּנֵ֨י הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֜י the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers' houses belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli. Our phrase is found in the description of their portion of the promised land. Joshua 21:6, 27 וְלִבְנֵ֣י גֵרְשׁ֗וֹןThe Gershonites received by lot from the clans of the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities … וְלִבְנֵ֣י גֵרְשׁוֹן֮ And to the Gershonites, one of the clans of the Levites, were given out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah with its pasturelands—two cities. The rest of the uses of our phrase identify the work that God called them to in the tabernacle worship. This is how our phrase is used 5 times in our chapter. Numbers 4:21-28, 38-41 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take a census בְּנֵ֥י גֵרְשׁ֖וֹן of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ houses and by their clans. From thirty years old up to fifty years old, you shall list them, all who can come to do duty, to do service in the tent of meeting. This is the service of the clans of הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֑י [this is a different word for clan which we will look at another time with one of our words from our phrase] the Gershonites, in serving and bearing burdens: they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering of goatskin that is on top of it and the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting and the hangings of the court and the screen for the entrance of the gate of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords and all the equipment for their service. And they shall do all that needs to be done with regard to them. All the service בְּנֵ֣י הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֔י [this is our phrase with the definite article added] of the sons of the Gershonites shall be at the command of Aaron and his sons, in all that they are to carry and in all that they have to do. And you shall assign to their charge all that they are to carry. This is the service of the clans בְּנֵ֥י הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֖י of the sons of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting, and their guard duty is to be under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest … Those listed בְּנֵ֣י גֵרְשׁ֑וֹן of the sons of Gershon, by their clans and their fathers’ houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty for service in the tent of meeting— those listed by their clans and their fathers’ houses were 2,630. This was the list of the clans בְּנֵ֣י גֵרְשׁ֔וֹן of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron listed according to the commandment of the LORD. I find it interesting that in another use of our phrase later in Numbers this clan was given equipment to help them transport what they were responsible for regarding the tabernacle. Numbers 7:6-7 So Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave לִבְנֵ֣י גֵרְשׁ֑וֹן to the sons of Gershon, according to their service. All of this organization of detail reminds us that God values organization because it supports the ultimate purpose of connecting with Him. A big part of connecting with God is being able to fight the good fight and stand against the evil that the devil and his vast evil network are working to bring about. In our chapter the reason organization is so vital is because it allows God’s ultimate purpose to not only be supported but successful. Without the people being able to worship God without distraction their battles against the enemies they were to face would be unsuccessful. Today we are still called to fight the good fight of faith. I’ll close with this great reminder. Notice how organized Satan is so we too need to be ready and prepared so God can defeat all work of the evil one through us and his church. Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
