Be honest: Besides their brief mentions in the Bible so far, have you ever heard of the Gershonites?
If you’re anything like me, any thoughts or recollections about this group of people probably centered around a vague understanding of their work in the Temple. They weren’t the priests—those are obviously the ones we focus on—but they were still there…somewhere.
Here they are, in all their glory. Their job, according to Numbers 4:21-28, is to carry the coverings for the Tabernacle. That includes the tent coverings, the outer court hangings, the screens for the doorways, and all the cords and equipment for the tabernacle. They camped on the west side of the Tent of Meeting and operated under the direction of Ithamar, the youngest son of Aaron.
But what did they do the other 95% of the time when they weren’t moving the Tabernacle from place to place?
It’s assumed that since they were the ones responsible for carrying the coverings, that they were also the ones tasked with maintaining the coverings, too.
If true, this creates a whole new level to their daily tasks, since the creation of the Tabernacle by Bezalel and Oholiab was a huge focus in the book of Exodus. These two men were legendary—skilled craftsmen who put their heart and soul into every minute detail.
The Gershonites then, were not just a glorified moving company, they were textile specialists whose job it was to maintain the integrity and beauty of the Tabernacle itself. Under Ithamar’s direction, they kept the beautiful structure in pristine condition for centuries, until it was eventually replaced by the Temple.
But the legacy of the Gershonites doesn’t stop there. Such close proximity to the Tabernacle for so long can only develop a deep, abiding love for the worship that takes place inside its walls.
That’s probably why later generations of the Gershonites developed so much of the music that the Jews used. The sons of Asaph, who are credited with numerous hymns in the book of Psalms, are members of the Gershonite clan (1 Chronicles 16:39-43; 25:1-6).
It’s really remarkable to read about how this group of people, who could’ve very easily felt slighted because of their exclusion from the priesthood and duties that didn’t involve the holy objects, still found meaning in their work.
Rather than becoming bitter and angry about their role, they threw themselves into their duties. The Gershonites not only maintained the Tabernacle’s beauty, but helped the worship through song as well. Either way, their service was always done with an eye to helping others draw closer to God, even if they personally went largely unnoticed.
