King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites [shall be] Eliasaph the son of Lael.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The chief of the Gershon clan was Elyasaf, the son of La'el.
Berean Standard Bible:
and the leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael.
American Standard Version:
And the prince of the fathers’ house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the chief{H5387} of the house{H1004} of the father{H1} of the Gershonites{H1649} shall be Eliasaph{H460} the son{H1121} of Lael{H3815}.
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for Numbers 3:24
1. Themes:
- Organization and structure within the tribe of Levi: The verse is part of the detailed instructions given to Moses and Aaron regarding the organization and duties of the Levitical clans, particularly the Gershonites, who were responsible for the care of the tabernacle's fabric and coverings.
- Leadership and responsibility: Eliasaph, the son of Lael, is appointed as the leader of the Gershonite clan, emphasizing the importance of designated authority within the tribal structure.
- Divine order: The specific mention of leaders and their roles reflects the broader theme of God's orderly establishment of the Israelite community, with every individual and group having a distinct purpose and place.
2. Historical Context:
- The book of Numbers: This book, also known as Bamidbar, is the fourth of the five books of the Torah. It describes the Israelites' journey from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land, including the census of the people, the organization of the camp, and various laws and narratives.
- The time of the tabernacle: The events described in Numbers occurred during the wilderness wandering, approximately in the 13th century BCE. The tabernacle was the portable dwelling place for God, central to Israelite worship before the establishment of the Temple in Jerusalem.
- The Levitical duties: The Gershonites, along with the other Levitical clans (Kohathites and Merarites), were entrusted with specific tasks related to the tabernacle. Their service was a form of worship and a means of facilitating the religious life of the Israelite community.
In summary, Numbers 3:24 reflects the theme of divinely ordained structure and leadership within the Levitical priesthood, specifically highlighting the role of Eliasaph as the chief of the Gershonites during a formative period of Israel's religious and social organization.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5387
There are 120 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָשִׂיא
Transliteration: nâsîyʼ
Pronunciation: naw-see'
Description: or נָשִׂא; from נָשָׂא; properly, an exalted one, i.e. a king or sheik; also a rising mist; captain, chief, cloud, governor, prince, ruler, vapour. - Strong's Number: H1004
There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּיִת
Transliteration: bayith
Pronunciation: bah'-yith
Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). - Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. - Strong's Number: H1649
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גֵּרְשֻׁנִּי
Transliteration: Gêrᵉshunnîy
Pronunciation: gay-resh-oon-nee'
Description: patronymically from גֵּרְשׁוֹן; a Gereshonite or descendant of Gereshon; Gershonite, sons of Gershon. - Strong's Number: H460
There are 271 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶלְיָסָף
Transliteration: ʼElyâçâph
Pronunciation: el-yaw-sawf'
Description: from אֵל and יָסַף; God (is) gatherer; Eljasaph, the name of two Israelites; Eliasaph. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H3815
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָאֵל
Transliteration: Lâʼêl
Pronunciation: law-ale'
Description: from the prepositional prefix and אֵל; (belonging) to God; Lael an Israelite; Lael.