במדבר, פרק ז׳, פסוק ז׳

When the time came to transport the Tabernacle, the distribution of wagons and oxen donated by the tribal leaders was handled with careful precision. Rather than a random allocation, resources were assigned to the Levite families based directly on the physical nature and weight of the materials they were tasked with moving. The exact animals and wagons presented by the leaders were given to the Levites permanently, without being exchanged or replaced. This ensured that each leader earned the distinct honor of having their personal contribution directly facilitate the transport of the sacred structure.

Even though the transfer of these resources was initiated, the actual physical handover to the family of Gershon did not take place immediately. The distribution was delayed until the moment the camp was ready to embark on its first journey. This wait was necessary because the precise division of labor and the exact weight each family would carry only became entirely clear once the census of the Levites was finalized [העמק דבר].

The family of Gershon was assigned only two wagons, a number that directly reflected the relatively light weight of their responsibilities. Their duty primarily involved transporting the softer, more flexible components of the Tabernacle, such as the fabrics, animal skins, curtains, screens, hangings, pegs, and cords [רש״י, חזקוני]. While it was technically possible for the men to carry these items by hand, the wagons were provided to ease the burden of transporting such a large volume of material. Although the exact dimensions of these wagons remain unknown, they were evidently spacious enough that just two were sufficient to hold the entirety of the Gershonite equipment [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Because their cargo of textiles was significantly lighter than the massive structural framework of boards, pillars, and heavy sockets carried by the Merari family, the Gershonites required fewer wagons [רש״י].