Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
The verse names the two clans descended from Gershon as the Libnites and the Shimites, and classes them together as the families of the Gershonites. It belongs to the reckoning that divides the Levites by the three sons of Levi for the service and care of the tabernacle. Within that arrangement the Gershonites were appointed to camp on the west side of the tabernacle.
The surrounding chapter assigns the carrying of the ark and the sacred vessels to the Kohathites, not to the Gershonites. This census and family record marks off the order and duties of the Levites from the office of the priests, for the Levites served the sanctuary without holding interchangeable priestly authority.
The verse sets forth part of the Mosaic order for the service of God, in which the priests were set in divisions and the Levites in courses by families. That same order written in the book of Moses was restored and followed when the returned captives dedicated the second temple at Jerusalem. It belongs to the account of the Levitical priesthood, which from the Exodus until the Crucifixion was vested in the tribe of Levi under the order of Aaron and was established for that age until type met antitype.
The verse names the two clans descended from Gershon as the Libnites and the Shimites, and classes them together as the families of the Gershonites. It belongs to the reckoning that divides the Levites by the three sons of Levi for the service and care of the tabernacle. Within that arrangement the Gershonites were appointed to camp on the west side of the tabernacle.
The surrounding chapter assigns the carrying of the ark and the sacred vessels to the Kohathites, not to the Gershonites. This census and family record marks off the order and duties of the Levites from the office of the priests, for the Levites served the sanctuary without holding interchangeable priestly authority.
The verse sets forth part of the Mosaic order for the service of God, in which the priests were set in divisions and the Levites in courses by families. That same order written in the book of Moses was restored and followed when the returned captives dedicated the second temple at Jerusalem. It belongs to the account of the Levitical priesthood, which from the Exodus until the Crucifixion was vested in the tribe of Levi under the order of Aaron and was established for that age until type met antitype.