New International Version“Count the Merarites by their clans and families.
New Living Translation“Now record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Merarite division of the tribe of Levi.
English Standard Version“As for the sons of Merari, you shall list them by their clans and their fathers’ houses.
Berean Standard BibleAs for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their clans and families,
King James BibleAs for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;
New King James Version“ As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families and by their fathers’ house.
New American Standard Bible“ As for the sons of Merari, you shall count them by their families, by their fathers’ households;
NASB 1995“As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families, by their fathers’ households;
NASB 1977“ As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families, by their fathers’ households;
Legacy Standard Bible“ As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families, by their fathers’ households;
Amplified Bible“As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households;
Christian Standard Bible“As for the Merarites, you are to register them by their clans and their ancestral families.
Holman Christian Standard BibleAs for the Merarites, you are to register them by their clans and their ancestral houses.
American Standard VersionAs for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them by their families, by their fathers' houses;
English Revised VersionAs for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them by their families, by their fathers' houses;
GOD'S WORD® Translation"Register the Merarites by families and households.
Good News TranslationThe LORD told Moses to take a census of the Levite clan of Merari by subclans and families,
International Standard Version"For the descendants of Merari, number them according to their tribes and ancestral houses
NET Bible"As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their families and by their clans.
New Heart English Bible"As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families, by their fathers' houses;
Webster's Bible TranslationAs for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAs for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their clans and families,
World English Bible“As for the sons of Merari, you shall count them by their families, by their fathers’ houses; Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThe sons of Merari, by their families, by the house of their fathers—you number them;
Young's Literal Translation 'The sons of Merari, by their families, by the house of their fathers, thou dost number them;
Smith's Literal TranslationThe sons of Merari according to their families, according to the house of their fathers, thou shalt review them; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThou shalt reckon up the sons of Merari also by the families and houses of their fathers,
Catholic Public Domain VersionLikewise, you shall take a census of the sons of Merari, by the families and houses of their fathers,
New American BibleThe Merarites, too, you shall enroll by clans and ancestral houses,
New Revised Standard VersionAs for the Merarites, you shall enroll them by their clans and their ancestral houses; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAs for the sons of Merari, you shall number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd you shall number the sons of Marari for their families for the house of their fathers. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them by their families, by their fathers' houses;
Brenton Septuagint TranslationThe sons of Merari according to their families, according to the houses of their lineage, take ye the number of them.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Duties of the Merarites29As for the sonsof Merari,you are to numberthemby their clansand families,30from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work of the Tent of Meeting.…
Cross References Numbers 3:6-8“Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. / They are to perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, attending to the service of the tabernacle. / They shall take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting and fulfill obligations for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.
Numbers 8:24-26“This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years of age or older shall enter to perform the service in the work at the Tent of Meeting. / But at the age of fifty, they must retire from performing the work and no longer serve. / After that, they may assist their brothers in fulfilling their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves are not to do the work. This is how you are to assign responsibilities to the Levites.”
1 Chronicles 23:3-6The Levites thirty years of age or older were counted, and the total number of men was 38,000. / “Of these,” said David, “24,000 are to oversee the work of the house of the LORD, 6,000 are to be officers and judges, / 4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise.” ...
1 Chronicles 23:24-32These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families, registered individually by name—those twenty years of age or older who worked in the service of the house of the LORD. / For David had said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to His people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever. / So now the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles for its service.” ...
1 Chronicles 24:1-19These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. / But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. / With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service. ...
1 Chronicles 26:12-19These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their chief men, had duties for ministering in the house of the LORD, just as their relatives did. / They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike. / The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him. ...
Exodus 6:18The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.
Exodus 6:25Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These were the heads of the Levite families by their clans.
Exodus 28:1“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.
Leviticus 8:5-9And Moses said to them, “This is what the LORD has commanded to be done.” / Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. / He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him. He tied the woven band of the ephod around him and fastened it to him. ...
Leviticus 10:8-11Then the LORD said to Aaron, / “You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come. / You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean, ...
1 Kings 8:4and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the Tent of Meeting with all its sacred furnishings. So the priests and Levites carried them up.
2 Chronicles 29:11Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, to minister before Him, and to burn incense.”
2 Chronicles 31:2Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—for the burnt offerings and peace offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for singing praises at the gates of the LORD’s dwelling.
Ezra 8:15-20Now I assembled these exiles at the canal that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. And when I searched among the people and priests, I found no Levites there. / Then I summoned the leaders: Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, as well as the teachers Joiarib and Elnathan. / And I sent them to Iddo, the leader at Casiphia, with a message for him and his kinsmen, the temple servants at Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God. ...
Treasury of Scripture As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them after their families, by the house of their fathers; Numbers 3:33-35 Of Merariwas the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: theseare the families of Merari… Jump to Previous ClansCountFamiliesFathersHouseHouseholdsHousesMerariMerar'iMeraritesNumberedOrderJump to Next ClansCountFamiliesFathersHouseHouseholdsHousesMerariMerar'iMeraritesNumberedOrderNumbers 4 1.The age at which the Levites were to serve, and the duration of the service4.The duty of the Kohathites16.The charge of Eleazar17.The office of the priests21.The duty of the Gershonites29.Of the Merarites34.The number of the Kohathites38.Of the Gershonites42.And of the MeraritesAs for the sons of MerariThe sons of Merari were one of the three Levitical families responsible for the care and transportation of the Tabernacle during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness. Merari was the third son of Levi, and his descendants were assigned specific duties related to the Tabernacle's structure. This highlights the organized and detailed nature of worship in ancient Israel, emphasizing the importance of each family's role in maintaining the sacred space. The Merarites' responsibilities included the transportation of the Tabernacle's frames, crossbars, posts, and bases, which were essential for the stability and integrity of the structure. you are to number them
The act of numbering, or taking a census, was a common practice in ancient Israel, often used to organize and prepare for specific tasks or military endeavors. In this context, numbering the sons of Merari was necessary to ensure that there were enough able-bodied men to fulfill their duties related to the Tabernacle. This census was not merely a logistical exercise but also a spiritual one, as it underscored the importance of each individual's contribution to the community's worship and service to God. The census also reflects God's orderliness and the importance of accountability within the community. by their clans and families
The emphasis on clans and families highlights the tribal and familial structure of ancient Israelite society. Each clan and family had specific roles and responsibilities, and this organization was crucial for maintaining order and efficiency. The Merarites, like other Levites, were divided into smaller family units, each with its own leadership and tasks. This structure ensured that the duties related to the Tabernacle were carried out with precision and care. It also reflects the broader biblical theme of God's covenant with Israel, which was often expressed through familial and tribal relationships. The focus on clans and families underscores the communal nature of worship and service, where each member's contribution was vital to the whole. Persons / Places / Events 1. Sons of MerariMerari was one of the sons of Levi, making his descendants part of the Levitical tribe. The Merarites were responsible for the care and transportation of the tabernacle's structural components, such as the frames, bars, pillars, and bases. 2. Levitical CensusThis event involves the counting and organizing of the Levites, specifically the sons of Merari, for their service in the tabernacle. This census was part of a larger organizational effort to ensure the tabernacle was properly maintained and transported. 3. TabernacleThe portable dwelling place for the presence of God among the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. The tabernacle was central to Israelite worship and required meticulous care and transportation. Teaching Points The Importance of Order and OrganizationGod values order and structure, as seen in the detailed instructions for the Levites. This reflects His nature and the importance of organization in our spiritual and communal lives. Every Role is SignificantThe Merarites had specific duties that were crucial for the functioning of the tabernacle. This teaches us that every role in the body of Christ is important, no matter how behind-the-scenes it may seem. Faithfulness in ServiceThe Merarites' commitment to their responsibilities is a model of faithfulness. We are called to be faithful in whatever tasks God assigns us, trusting that they contribute to His greater plan. Generational Legacy of ServiceThe duties of the Merarites were passed down through generations, highlighting the importance of instilling a legacy of service and faithfulness in our families. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 4
Is there any archaeological record corroborating the elaborate sacrificial system described in Numbers 29?
Do the detailed genealogies in Numbers 26 align consistently with other biblical genealogies, or are there discrepancies that suggest later editing?
Numbers 4:29-30 - Why does God prescribe a seemingly arbitrary age range for the Merarites' duties, and does this contradict other biblical texts about priestly service?
How do the repeated animal offerings in Numbers 29 align or conflict with the later prophetic criticism of sacrifices (e.g., Isaiah 1:11)?
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew As for the sonsבְּנֵ֖י(bə·nê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121:A sonof Merari,מְרָרִ֑י(mə·rā·rî)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4847:Merari -- a son of Leviyou are to registerתִּפְקֹ֥ד(tip̄·qōḏ)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6485:To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, depositthem by their clansלְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֥ם(lə·miš·pə·ḥō·ṯām)Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4940:A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, peopleand families,אֲבֹתָ֖ם(’ă·ḇō·ṯām)Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1:Father
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OT Law: Numbers 4:29 As for the sons of Merari you (Nu Num.) |
