🔢WEB · Numbers 3:24
What does Numbers 3:24 mean?
"The prince of the fathers’ house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael."
— Numbers 3:24 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
Those who were counted of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those who were counted of them were seven thousand five hundred.
The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.
The prince of the fathers’ house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
The duty of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, its covering, and the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting,
and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and around the altar, and its cords for all of its service.
Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.
Explanation
Numbers 3:24 simply identifies a leader: Eliasaph, son of Lael, was appointed as the chief of the Gershonite family division among the Levites. On the surface it looks like a small administrative detail—just a name and a title—but it fits into a larger structure that God was establishing for Israel's worship and camp life during the wilderness wanderings.
The book of Numbers was written by Moses, addressed to the newly freed nation of Israel as they organized themselves after the exodus from Egypt and prepared for the journey to the Promised Land. Chapter 3 specifically deals with the tribe of Levi, which God set apart from the other tribes to serve in the tabernacle. The Levites were divided into three main clans—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari—each descended from one of Levi's sons. Each clan was given specific duties related to the tabernacle: transporting it, caring for its furnishings, and maintaining its coverings and structure. Verse 24 tells us who was appointed to lead the Gershonite clan specifically, following the pattern of naming a "prince" or leader over each family group, much as leaders were named over each of the twelve tribes earlier
Compare translations
Go deeper with ScriptureCompanion AI
Ask questions about any verse, follow reading plans, write personal prayers, and track your daily habit — all grounded in verified scripture text.