Gershom גֵּרְשֹׁם
Descendant of Phinehas; returned to Jerusalem with Ezra.
Who is Gershom in the Bible?
Gershom was a descendant of Phinehas who returned to Jerusalem with Ezra after the Babylonian exile, as recorded in Ezra 8:2. As a member of the priestly lineage through Phinehas, a grandson of Aaron the first high priest, Gershom represented the continuity of Israel's religious leadership. He was part of Ezra's mission in the 5th century BC to reestablish Jewish worship and religious law in Judah under Persian rule. The inclusion of Gershom and other descendants of prominent priestly families in this return underscores the significance of restoring the priesthood and temple worship in post-exilic Jerusalem.
Biography
Gershom is mentioned briefly in Ezr.8.2 as one of the descendants of Phinehas who returned to Jerusalem with Ezra after the Babylonian exile. Phinehas was a son of Eleazar and a grandson of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel. As a descendant of Phinehas, Gershom would have been part of the priestly lineage. Ezra, a priest and scribe, led a group of Israelites back to Jerusalem in the 5th century BC, during the reign of the Persian king Artaxerxes. The purpose of this return was to reestablish Jewish worship and law in the land of Judah. The mention of Gershom and other descendants of prominent priestly families joining Ezra's mission highlights the importance of restoring the priesthood and religious practices in post-exilic Judah.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 8:2
"from the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom; from the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel; from the descendants of David, Hattush"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | גֵּרְשֹׁם | gērĕšōm | Gereshom , the name of four Israelites |