MERARI
MERARI
The youngest of Levi’s three sons, born in Canaan, and head of a family of the Levites, Gen 46:11 ; Exo 6:16 ; Num 3:17 ; 1Ch 6:1 . In the journey through the wilderness they were charged with the framework of the tabernacle, to carry from one place of encampment to another, and there set it up, Num 4:29-33 ; 7:8. Twelve cities were assigned to them beyond Jordan, Jos 21:7,34 -40.
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Merari
(Hebrews Merari’, , sad; Sept. ), the youngest son of Levi, probably born in Canaan (Gen 46:11; Exo 6:16; Num 3:17; 1Ch 6:1). BC. 1874. Of Merari’s personal history, beyond the fact of his birth before the descent of Jacob into Egypt, and of his being one of the seventy who accompanied Jacob thither, we know nothing whatever (Gen 46:8; Gen 46:11). He became the head of the third great division () of the Levites, whose designation in Hebrew is the same as that of their progenitor, only with the article prefixed, viz. , i.e. the Merarites (Exo 6:19), who during the march through the desert had charge of the materials of the Tabernacle (Num 3:36; Num 4:30 sq.), for the transportation of which they were provided with four carts, each drawn by a yoke of oxen (Num 7:8). In Palestine they were assigned twelve trans-Jordanic cities for a residence (Jos 21:7; Jos 21:34 sq.). SEE MERARITE.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Merari (2)
( v. r. ) was likewise the name of the. father of Judith (Jdt 8:1; Jdt 16:7).
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Merari
sad; bitter, the youngest son of Levi, born before the descent of Jacob into Egypt, and one of the seventy who accompanied him thither (Gen. 46:11; Ex. 6:16). He became the head of one of the great divisions of the Levites (Ex. 6:19). (See MERARITES
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Merari
(“sorrowful”), because of the anguish attending his birth (Gen 46:8; Gen 46:11). (See LEVITES.) Third of Levi’s sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Born before Jacob’s going down to Egypt; of the 70 who accompanied him. The Mahlites and Mushites were the two families of Merarites at the Exodus and in the wilderness (1Ch 6:19; 1Ch 6:47; Num 3:20; Num 3:33-37; Num 4:29-33; Num 4:42-45; Num 7:8; Num 10:17-21). They followed after Judah’s standard, and before Reuben’s in the march, to set up the tabernacle against the Kohathites’ arrival. Their charge was the tabernacle boards, pillars, etc., four wagons and eight oxen being assigned them. Joshua assigned them 12, cities out of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun (Jos 21:7; Jos 21:34-40).
They shared with the Gershonites and Kohathites the offices of singers, doorkeepers, etc., under David (1Ch 15:1-6; 1Ch 23:5-6; 1Ch 23:21-23; 1Ch 26:10; 1Ch 26:19); in Nehemiah’s time also (Neh 11:15-16). Lord A. Hervey (Smith’s Dictionary) supposes Jeduthun the patronymic title of the house, Ethan the head in David’s time, and that Jeduthnn was brother of an ancestor of Ethan before Hashabiah (1Ch 6:45; 1Ch 25:3; 1Ch 25:19) and son of Hilkiah or Amaziah. Thus, the “sons of Ethan” are distinct from “sons of Jeduthun,” and the difficulty is explained how in David’s time there could be sons of “sons of Jeduthun” above 30 years of age for they filled offices (1Ch 26:10; 1Ch 16:38), at the same time that Jeduthun is said to be” chief of the singers.”
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Merari
me-rar (, merar, bitter; , Marare):
(1) The 3rd son of Levi, his brothers, Gershon and Kohath, being always mentioned together with him (Gen 46:11; Exo 6:16 ff). He was among those 70 who went down to Egypt with Jacob (Gen 46:8, Gen 46:11; compare Gen 46:26 and Exo 1:5).
(2) The family of Merari, descendants of above, and always – with one exception, for which see MERARITES – spoken of as sons of Merari in numerous references, such as 1Ch 6:1, 1Ch 6:16, 1Ch 6:19, 1Ch 6:29, which only repeat without additional information the references to be found in the body of this article. We early find them divided into two families, the Mahli and Mushi (Exo 6:19; Num 3:17, Num 3:20, Num 3:33). At the exodus they numbered, under their chief Zuriel, 6,200, and they were assigned the north side of the tabernacle as a tenting-place (Num 3:34, Num 3:35), thus sharing in the honor of those who immediately surrounded the tabernacle – the south side being given to the Kohathites, the west to the Gershonites, and the east – toward the sun-rising – being reserved for Moses, Aaron and his sons (Num 3:23, Num 3:29, Num 3:35, Num 3:38). To the Merarites was entrusted the care of the boards, bars, pillars, sockets, vessels, pins and cords of the tabernacle (Num 3:36, Num 3:37; Num 4:29-33). They and the Gershonites were under the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron, the sons of Gershon having charge of the softer material of the tabernacles – curtains, covers, hangings, etc. (Num 3:25, Num 3:26). When reckoned by the number fit for service, i.e. between 30 and 50 years, the sons of Merari were 3,200 strong (Num 4:42-45). Because of the weight of the material in their charge they were allowed 4 wagons and 8 oxen for carriage (Num 7:8). In marching, when the tabernacle was taken down, the standard of Judah went first (Num 10:14); then followed the Merarites bearing the tabernacle (Num 10:17), and after them came the standard of Reuben (Num 10:18). After the settlement in Canaan they had 12 cities assigned them out of Gad, Reuben and Zebulun (Jos 21:7, Jos 21:34-40; 1Ch 6:63, 1Ch 6:77-81), just as the other two branches of Levi’s family had their 12 cities respectively assigned out of the other tribes (Josh 21). The names of these Merarite cities are given (loc. cit.), and among them is Ramoth-gilead, one of the cities of refuge (Jos 21:38). It is evident from 1Ch 6:44-47; 1Ch 16:41; 1Ch 25:1, 1Ch 25:3, 1Ch 25:6, 1Ch 25:9, 1Ch 25:11, 1Ch 25:15, 1Ch 25:19, 1Ch 25:21 f; compare 1Ch 15:6, 1Ch 15:17-19 that they had charge under Ethan or Jeduthun of the temple music in the service. In David’s time Asaiah was their chief (1Ch 15:6). Himself and 220 of the family helped David to bring up the Ark. David divided the Levites into courses among the Gershonites, Kohathites and Merarites (1Ch 23:6; compare 1Ch 23:21-23; 1Ch 24:26-30). The functions of certain Merarites are described in 1Ch 26:10-19. They also took part in cleansing the temple in Hezekiah’s time (2Ch 29:12) as well as in the days of Josiah (2Ch 34:12), helping to repair the house of the Lord. Among the helpers of Ezra, too, we find some of them numbered (Ezr 8:18, Ezr 8:19). The family seems to have played a very important part in keeping steady and true such faithfulness as remained in Israel.
(3) The father of Judith (Judith 8:1; 16:7).
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Merari
Merari, (bitter), youngest son of Levi, born in Canaan (Gen 46:11; Exo 6:16; Num 3:17 : 1Ch 6:1). He is only known from his name having been given to one of the three great divisions of the Levitical tribe.
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Merari
H4847
Son of Levi
Gen 46:11
Head of the Merarite Levites
Num 3:17; Num 3:33-35 Levites
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Merari
Mer’ari. (bitter, unhappy). Third son of Levi, and head of the third great division, of the Levites, the Merarites. Gen 46:8; Gen 46:11. At the time of the Exodus, and the numbering in the wilderness, the Merarites consisted of two families, the Mahlites and the Mushites, Mahli and Mushi being either the two sons, or the son and grandson of Merari. 1Ch 6:19; 1Ch 6:47.
Their chief, at that time, was Zuriel. Their charge was the cords of the Tabernacle and the court, and all the tools connected with setting them up. In the division of the land by Joshua, the Merarites had twelve cities assigned to them, out of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun. Jos 21:7; Jos 21:34-40; 1Ch 6:63; 1Ch_77-81. In the days of Hezekiah, the Merarites were still flourishing. 2Ch 29:12; 2Ch 29:15.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
MERARI
son of Levi
Gen 46:11; Exo 6:16; Num 3:17; Num 3:35; 1Ch 6:1; 1Ch 6:19