Shimei
Shimei was a son of Gershon and grandson of Levi, and his descendants formed a Levitical clan.
Biography
Shimei was a son of Gershon and grandson of Levi, making him one of the foundational figures of the Gershonite Levitical clan. He is mentioned in Numbers 3:18 and 1 Chronicles 6:17 as one of the sons of Gershon, alongside his brother Libni. The Gershonites were responsible for transporting the curtains, coverings, and hangings of the tabernacle during Israel's wilderness wanderings (Numbers 4:21–28). Shimei's descendants formed a distinct subdivision within the Gershonite branch of Levi, maintaining their own clan identity across the generations. His name was significant enough to become the eponym of a recognized Levitical division, the Shimeites, who carried their responsibilities in Israel's worship from the wilderness period onward.
Significance
As a son of Gershon and grandson of Levi, Shimei stands near the headwaters of Israel's formal worship system. The Levitical clans traced through him were entrusted with the sacred task of transporting the outer coverings of the tabernacle, a tangible expression of God's dwelling among his people. Theologically, Shimei's lineage represents the generational transmission of sacred responsibility, the idea that covenant service is not merely individual but familial and communal. His descendants' faithful fulfillment of tabernacle duties across centuries testifies to the enduring importance of ordered, reverent worship in Israel's covenant life with God.
Verse Appearances (7)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]