The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.
Parallel translations
- KJV The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.
- BSB The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle,
- NKJV The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle westward.
- NASB The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle westward,
- NLT They were assigned the area to the west of the Tabernacle for their camp.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Gershonites camped behind the tabernacle on the west side. Their position matched their assigned responsibilities.
Overview
The Gershonites were stationed to the west of the tabernacle, close to the coverings and hangings they tended. Camp placement was tied to duty, ensuring efficient and orderly service. This arrangement again displays God's wisdom in organizing His ministers for their work.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Num 1:53But the Levites shall encamp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be responsible for the Tabernacle of the Testimony.”
- Num 2:17“Then the Tent of Meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camps. As they encamp, so shall they set out, every man in his place, by their standards.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 3:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.