Gershom

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GERSHOM

GERSHOM (Heb. גֵּרְשׁוֹם, גֵּרְשֹׁם), elder son of Moses and Zipporah (Ex. 2:22; 18:3). Gershom was born in Midian. The meaning of the name is unknown, but is explained as "a stranger there," symbolizing Moses' flight from Egypt. According to i Chronicles 23:16 and 26:24, Gershom's son was Shebuel. Since, however, he is described as "the chief officer in charge of the treasuries" in the time of David, Shebuel was very likely a more distant descendant of Gershom. Another descendant was Jonathan who acted as a priest at the idol of Micah (Judg. 18:30; mt has "Moses" deferentially written with a suspended nun). The Gershomites had no functions in connection with the Tent of Meeting and no Levitical cities were apportioned to them. They apparently were priests to the tribe of Dan (ibid.).

add. bibliography:

J. Wright, in: abd ii, 993–94.

[Nahum M. Sarna]