| <p> ''''' mḗ ''''' - ''''' rā´rı̄ ''''' ( מררי , <i> ''''' merārı̄ ''''' </i> , "bitter"; Μαραρεί , <i> ''''' Marareı́ ''''' </i> ): </p> <p> (1) The 3son of Levi, his brothers, [[Gershon]] and Kohath, being always mentioned together with him ( [[Genesis]] 46:11; Exodus 6:16 ff). He was among those 70 who went down to [[Egypt]] with [[Jacob]] ( Genesis 46:8 , Genesis 46:11; compare Genesis 46:26 and Exodus 1:5 ). </p> <p> (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 1 Chronicles 6:1 , 1 Chronicles 6:16 , 1 Chronicles 6:19 , 1 Chronicles 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]] ( Exodus 6:19; Numbers 3:17 , Numbers 3:20 , Numbers 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 ( Numbers 3:34 , Numbers 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 ( Numbers 3:23 , Numbers 3:29 , Numbers 3:35 , Numbers 3:38 ). To the Merarites was entrusted the care of the boards, bars, pillars, sockets, vessels, pins and cords of the tabernacle ( Numbers 3:36 , Numbers 3:37; Numbers 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. ( Numbers 3:25 , Numbers 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 ( Numbers 4:42-45 ). Because of the weight of the material in their charge they were allowed 4 wagons and 8 oxen for carriage ( Numbers 7:8 ). In marching, when the tabernacle was taken down, the standard of [[Judah]] went first ( Numbers 10:14 ); then followed the Merarites bearing the tabernacle ( Numbers 10:17 ), and after them came the standard of [[Reuben]] ( Numbers 10:18 ). After the settlement in [[Canaan]] they had 12 cities assigned them out of Gad, Reuben and [[Zebulun]] ( Joshua 21:7 , Joshua 21:34-40; 1 Chronicles 6:63 , 1 Chronicles 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 ( Joshua 21:38 ). It is evident from 1 Chronicles 6:44-47; 1 Chronicles 16:41; 1 Chronicles 25:1 , 1 Chronicles 25:3 , 1 Chronicles 25:6 , 1 Chronicles 25:9 , 1 Chronicles 25:11 , 1 Chronicles 25:15 , 1 Chronicles 25:19 , 1 Chronicles 25:21 f; compare 1 Chronicles 15:6 , 1 Chronicles 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 ( 1 Chronicles 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 ( 1 Chronicles 23:6; compare 1 Chronicles 23:21-23; 1 Chronicles 24:26-30 ). The functions of certain Merarites are described in 1 Chronicles 26:10-19 . They also took part in cleansing the temple in Hezekiah's time ( 2 Chronicles 29:12 ) as well as in the days of [[Josiah]] ( 2 Chronicles 34:12 ), helping to repair the house of the Lord. Among the helpers of Ezra, too, we find some of them numbered ( Ezra 8:18 , Ezra 8:19 ). The family seems to have played a very important part in keeping steady and true such faithfulness as remained in Israel. </p> <p> (3) The father of [[Judith]] ( Judith 8:1; 16:7 ). </p> | | Merari <ref name="term_50742" /> |
