The sons of Moses Gershom and Eliezer.
David's great roll of the Levites gives one line to the family of the man who led Israel out of Egypt. It names his two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. Two questions follow. Why does the lawgiver's household sit here among ordinary Levites, and what do those two names still say?
The record treats the two brothers differently. Aaron's line stands apart in the priesthood. Moses' line takes its place with the rest of the tribe.
Aaron and Moses both belonged to the sons of Kohath. But Aaron and his sons are "forever" set apart from this family of Levites to serve as priests "forever" (v. 13). Moses was once "king in Jeshurun," lawgiver, mediator, and leader of the people. Yet he and his sons enter into the tribe of Levi (vv. 14-26). From the moment Solomon's reign begins, his family holds no place higher than his brothers. So we see him on the holy mountain disappear altogether, along with Elijah, to give place to Jesus alone as He enters into His kingdom.
The two names move in opposite directions. One looks at where Moses was living. The other looks at what God was to him.
In naming his elder son Gershom, Moses showed he knew he was a stranger in the world where he lived. The cutting off of circumcision fitted that very well. Now the second son is named, and we move from what is negative to what is positive, since Eliezer means, "My God is a help." This had now been made very plain. In these two names we find Moses saying in principle what Joseph before him had said in the names of his two sons, which meant, "Forgetting," and "Fruitful."
Exodus records a struggle over these same boys before God could use their father.
The two names bear bright witness to the true and faithful heart of their father. In Exodus 4:24, 26 we have a hint that all was not well in Moses' own household. Zipporah evidently refused to let the sons be circumcised, because to her it seemed a cruel, unnecessary custom... But before God could use His servant this must be set right, and his household, as well as he himself, must bear the mark which testifies of death.
Gershom's line has a painful sequel. Some translations of Judges make it plain.
Turn to the New Translation, or the Revised Version, of Judges 18:30, and you will read the tragic words, "Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land." If this reading is correct — and it probably is, though we may not be fully sure — then the first idol priest recorded in Israel was the grandson of Moses.
Some copies read "Manasseh" instead of "Moses" there. One reference work explains how that happened, and comes down on the same side:
In many Hebrew manuscripts the letter nun (N) sits over or between the letters mem (M) and shin (S), so as to change the name of Moses to Manasseh. The Rabbis give this reason for the supposed correction: the copyists wanted to clear the name of Moses from the disgrace of having a descendant among idolaters in Israel. No doubt Moses should be read instead of Manasseh.
The story does not end in that shadow. Under David, descendants of both Gershom and Eliezer carry real responsibility.
The sons of Moses "the man of God" could not serve as priests, as their brothers the sons of Aaron did. They were named of the tribe of Levi. During David's reign, "Shebuel the son of Gershom," Moses' eldest son, was "ruler of the treasures." Shelomith, a descendant of Moses' second son, kept "all the treasures of the dedicated things" with his brothers. These were given for the upkeep of the house of the LORD (1 Chron. 26:24-28). They held an honourable position in David's kingdom. So we can point to the sons of Moses as a striking example of that gracious promise coming true: "Your children shall dwell secure; your offspring shall be established before you."
These Levites stand for more than themselves.
The LORD took them instead of the firstborn sons of the whole nation... They were a privileged people, called to give themselves to God's interests, and He gave them special care (Numbers 3:40-51 tells us all about this). They were a type of the whole Christian company today. Their service, as King David ordered it, shows us in type the place and spiritual service God has called us to.
- Named, not exalted — Moses' sons appear in the Levite roll like everyone else. His family holds no rank above his brothers.
- Named for a testimony — Gershom owns that Moses lived as a stranger; Eliezer says "My God is a help."
- Named yet unmarked — Zipporah refused circumcision for these boys. God set the household right before He used His servant.
- Named and disgraced — if the reading of Judges 18:30 is right, Moses' grandson through Gershom became the first idol priest in Israel.
- Named and trusted again — under David, descendants of both sons guard the treasures of God's house. A servant's offspring are established after all.
The sons of Gershom Shebuel the head.
David is listing the Levite families, and this line names the head of Gershom's house. Gershom was Moses' own son — so why does the lawgiver's family sit among ordinary Levites instead of the priests, and what became of that line?
The chapter divides Levi into the three families of Gershon, Kohath and Merari, and it quietly settles where Moses himself belongs.
Aaron and Moses belonged to the sons of Kohath. But Aaron and his sons are "forever" separated from this family of Levites to exercise the office of the priesthood "forever" (v. 13). Moses was once "king in Jeshurun," lawgiver, mediator, and leader of the people. Yet he and his sons enter into the tribe of Levi (vv. 14-26). From the moment Solomon's reign begins, his family holds no place above his brothers. So we see him on the holy mountain disappearing completely together with Elijah to give place to Jesus alone, entering into His kingdom.
Shebuel's family could not serve at the altar, yet the later chapters show what they were handed instead.
The sons of Moses "the man of God" could not serve as priests, as their brothers the sons of Aaron did. They were named of the tribe of Levi (1 Chron. 23:14-17). During David's reign, "Shebuel the son of Gershom," Moses' eldest son, was "ruler of the treasures." Shelomith, descended from Moses' second son, was, with his brothers, the keeper of "all the treasures of the dedicated things," given specifically for the upkeep of the house of the LORD (1 Chron. 26:24-28). They were privileged to hold an honourable position in David's kingdom. So we can point to the sons of Moses as a striking example of the fulfilment of that gracious promise, "The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before You."
(That closing promise is Psalm 102:28.)
Gershom's name carries a darker memory. One writer traces a priest of idols back to this same family.
At the very end we are told who this man is (Judges 18:30). He is the son of Gershom, the son of Moses (as the Revised Version also renders it), and he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. This Levite, who took the place of priest in connection with idolatry, was a descendant of no other than Moses himself, the great lawgiver of Israel. What a thought, beloved! Is it not true, is it not written on every verse we have read, "You must be born again"? There is no such thing as spiritual descent. There is no such thing as inheriting spiritual traits; and the child of Moses may become the leader in a falling away from God, just as much an enemy of God as an uncircumcised heathen king.
Set the two records side by side and the same family line, once linked with stolen religious treasure, is now trusted with God's own.
Why does a list of Levite names matter now? One writer explains who the Levites stood for.
The LORD took them instead of the firstborn sons of the whole nation. The blood in Egypt had sheltered these firstborn sons from judgment. The LORD claimed them as His own, but took the tribe of Levi instead of them for special service in His house and for His Name. They were a privileged people, called to devote themselves to God's interests and to receive His special care (Numbers 3:40-51 tells us all about this). They were a type of the whole Christian company today. Their service, as King David ordered it, shows us in type the place and spiritual service God has called us to. Indeed, we are called "the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven" (Heb. 12:23).
- Named, not ranked. Moses' family enters the tribe of Levi and holds no place above the rest. Aaron's line alone carries the priesthood.
- Named, then trusted. Shebuel cannot serve as a priest. Yet in David's reign he is "ruler of the treasures" of God's house.
- Named, yet not saved by it. A man of this same line became a priest of idols. There is no spiritual descent — no one inherits new birth from a godly ancestor.
- Named again in grace. The family that produced an idol-priest later keeps the dedicated treasures of God's house — a striking example of the promise that a servant's offspring will be established before God.
- Your name in the list. The LORD took Levi in place of Israel's firstborn, whom the blood had sheltered. Believers today — "the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven" — are called to the same devoted service.