Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 4:29
As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;
29 33. The Merarites and their duties.
They carry (in wagons Num 7:8) the wooden framework of the Dwelling, and everything else of wood bars, pillars and pins (or rather pegs) the silver bases (R.V. ‘sockets’) of the framework and the bronze bases of the pillars of the court.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
29-33. As for the sons ofMerariThey carried the coarser and heavier appurtenances,which, however, were so important and necessary, that an inventorywas kept of themnot only on account of their number and variety,but of their comparative commonness and smallness, which might haveled to their being lost or missing through carelessness,inadvertency, or neglect. It was a useful lesson, showing that Goddisregards nothing pertaining to His service, and that even in theleast and most trivial matters, He requires the duty of faithfulobedience.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
As for the sons of Merari,…. The third and youngest son of Levi:
thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers; which is the form of expression used of them all;
[See comments on Nu 4:2].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Service of the Merarites. – Num 4:29 and Num 4:30, like Num 4:22 and Num 4:23. , to muster, i.e., to number, equivalent to , to take the number.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verses 29-33:
The Merarites were the largest in number of the Levitical families. They were assigned the heaviest duty of all, the transporting of and care for the boards of the Tabernacle wall, see Nu 2:33-37.
The age limit for the Merarites’ service was the same as for the Gershonites: thirty and fifty.
Ithamar was in charge of the service of the Merarites.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
C. THE MERARITES vv. 2933
TEXT
Num. 4:29. As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers; 30. From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. 31. And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and sockets thereof, 32. And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden. 33. This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
PARAPHRASE
Num. 4:29. Regarding the sons of Merari, you shall count them by their families, by their fathers houses; you shall count them from thirty years of age and up to fifty: everyone who enters the service, to do the duties of the Tent of Meeting. 31. And this is the responsibility for their loads, for all their duties in the Tent of Meeting: the boards of the Tabernacle and its bars, its pillars and its sockets, 32. as well as the pillars of the surrounding court, their sockets, pegs and cords, with all their utensils, and all their service; and you shall assign to each man by name the articles he is to carry. 33. This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to their duties, in the Tent of Meeting, under the supervision of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.
COMMENTARY
Unto the Merarites fell the heaviest of all the burdens of transport. It was a fitting assignment, since the tribe had a larger number of men in the 3050 age bracket than did the Gershonites or the Kohathites-51% of their total count.
Tribe
Total
Age 3050
% of Tribe
Kohath
8600
2750
32
Gershon
7500
2630
35
Merari
6200
3200
51
22,300
8560
38
The Merarites were the nations carpenters, and, under Ithamars direction, they are to care for the structural framework of the Tent and the court. As with the Gershonites, the Merarites were provided with wagons to handle their burdens, (Num. 7:8).
QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS
90.
Review the instructions for making the boards of the Tabernacle and the court (Exo. 26:15-25); it will help you appreciate the extent of the Merarites duties in moving to compute the running feet of lumber required!
91.
Study Exo. 27:19, with the ten preceding verses, to understand how the many pegs, cords and other accessories were used in the Tabernacle.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
The Responsibility of the Sons of Merari ( Num 4:29-33 ).
Num 4:29-30
“ As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families, by their fathers’ houses, from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old shall you (thou) number them, every one who enters on the service, to do the work of the tent of meeting.”
The sons of Merari who were between 30 and 50 and able to serve were also to be listed by their families and by their father’s houses for the work of the Tent of Meeting. The same had been true also for the other sub-tribes. In this respect they were all equal and acceptable.
Num 4:31-32
“ And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tent of meeting, the boards of the tabernacle, and its bars, and its pillars, and its sockets, and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service. And by name you shall appoint the instruments of the charge of their burden.”
Their responsibility was to look after all the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the Tent of Meeting without which it could not be erected and hold together. They may not have seemed important compared with the furniture of the Dwellingplace but it could not be erected without them.
“And by name you shall appoint the instruments of the charge of their burden.” The sons of Merari were the only ones who were to be allotted their charge by name. Looking after the nuts and bolts was a very important job, and none must go astray. Thus different members of the ‘hundreds’ would each be allotted his own area of responsibility in order to ensure that nothing went astray.
Num 4:33
“ This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.”
So this was their service and responsibility. Like the Gershonites they too were under the control and authority of Ithamar.
This reminds us that all of us are allocated different tasks in our service for God, and while our task may seem to be small it is vital that it be done properly and in a right spirit. For if one nut or bolt is missing the whole will be blemished. Blessed indeed is the church where every member fulfils his or her responsibility prayerfully and believingly.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Work of the Merarites
v. 29. As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, v. 30. from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, v. 31. And this is the charge of their burden, v. 32. and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service; and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden, v. 33. This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron, the priest,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Num 3:33-35
Reciprocal: Num 3:36 – under the custody and charge Num 4:45 – General