Numbers 4:29-33

C. THE MERARITES vv. 29-33
TEXT

Numbers 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

Numbers 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 30-50 age bracket than did the Gershonites or the Kohathites-51% of their total count.

Tribe

Total

Age 30-50

% of Tribe

Kohath

8600

2750

32

Gershon

7500

2630

35

Merari

6200

3200

51

22,300

8560

38

The Merarites were the nation's carpenters, and, under Ithamar's 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, (Numbers 7:8).

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

90.

Review the instructions for making the boards of the Tabernacle and the court (Exodus 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 Exodus 27:19, with the ten preceding verses, to understand how the many pegs, cords and other accessories were used in the Tabernacle.