iii). The Family And Privileges of Gershon.
As Gershon was the first-born details concerning his sub-tribe were given first. Information was now given about general descent, status, sacred task and ‘numbers' of those in the sub-tribe over one month old expressed in terms of ‘hundreds' (units of those who serve).
‘Of Gershon was the family (or ‘clan') of the Libnites, and the family (or ‘clan') of the Shimeites: these are the families (or ‘clans') of the Gershonites.'
Coming down to Moses' day the descendants of the sub-tribe of Gershon were the clans of the Libnites and the Shimeites. These were the ‘families' of the Gershonites whose males from one month and upwards had to be ‘numbered'.
‘Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.'
And those who were numbered amounted to seven 'lph. 'lph (‘thousands) were lower levels of ‘family' to the two clans mentioned above, but larger than a ‘nuclear family'. Thus an 'eleph is lower down the scale from a mishpachah. There was one mishpachah divided up into seven 'eleph. And there were five ‘hundreds', or service groups in those seven 'lph s.
Alternately it means that there were seven chieftains and in all five ‘hundreds' or service groups. It will be noted that all is in ‘hundreds' (service groups). There is no attempt to make an individual count.
‘The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.'
The sub-tribes of the Gershonites were to encamp between the Rachel tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin to the west, and the Tabernacle. This was the third most prestigious position (Numbers 2:18-24). The first was to the east, occupied by the priests, the second to the south, occupied by the Kohathites, because they were more directly related to Moses and Aaron (compare Numbers 2:3-16).
‘And the prince of the fathers' house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.'
The person appointed to oversee the Gershonites in their sacred tasks was Eliasaph, son of Lael, probably already the chieftain of the sub-tribe rather than a special appointment.
‘And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting shall be the tabernacle, and the Tent, its covering, and the screen for the door of the tent of meeting, and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all its service.'
The responsibility of the Gershonites was to be for the Dwellingplace itself, including the Tent Sanctuary, and all hangings and coverings and cords. This was the second most prestigious task of the Levites, the first being the responsibility for the sacred furniture including the Ark.