Josephus relates (Ant. 11:8, 2-4) that Sanballat built a temple for the
Samaritans on this mountain, and instituted a priesthood, as rivals to those
of the Jews at Jerusalem. This temple was destroyed after it had stood
two hundred years. It was afterwards rebuilt by Herod the Great. There is
a Samaritan tradition that it was the scene of the incident recorded in
Genesis 22. There are many ruins on this mountain, some of which are
evidently of Christian buildings. To this mountain the woman of Sychar
referred in John 4:20. For centuries Gerizim was the centre of political
outbreaks. The Samaritans (q.v.), a small but united body, still linger here,
and keep up their ancient ceremonial worship.
- GERSHOM expulsion. (1.) The eldest son of Levi (1 Chronicles 6:16, 17,
20, 43, 62, 71; 15:7)=GERSHON (q.v.).
(2.) The elder of the two sons of Moses born to him in Midian (Exodus
2:22; 18:3). On his way to Egypt with his family, in obedience to the
command of the Lord, Moses was attacked by a sudden and dangerous
illness (4:24-26), which Zipporah his wife believed to have been sent
because he had neglected to circumcise his son. She accordingly took a
“sharp stone” and circumcised her son Gershom, saying, “Surely a bloody
husband art thou to me”, i.e., by the blood of her child she had, as it were,
purchased her husband, had won him back again.
(3.) A descendant of Phinehas who returned with Ezra from Babylon (Ezra
8:2).
(4.) The son of Manasseh (Judges 18:30), in R.V. “of Moses.”
- GERSHON =Ger’shom expulsion, the eldest of Levi’s three sons
(Genesis 46:11; Exodus 6:16).
In the wilderness the sons of Gershon had charge of the fabrics of the
tabernacle when it was moved from place to place, the curtains, veils,
tent-hangings (Numbers 3: 21-26). Thirteen Levitical cities fell to the lot of
the Gershonites (Joshua 21:27-33).