Keraia
Numbers 3

Numbers 3:20

The Numbering of the Levites · Numbers 3:14–20
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Translations

Modern
And the sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, according to their families.
Traditional
And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.
Literal
And the sons of Merari by their clans: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of Levi, by the houses of their fathers.
Latin
Filii Merari: Moholi et Musi.

Original

Hebrew
English
And the sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, according to their families.

Notes

Numbers 3:14–39

  • This first phase of a two-part registration of the tribe of Levi summarized each family's special duties. 4:1–33 describes this in more detail (see 4:34–49 for the second phase). This count did not relate to military duties, so it included male Levites from the age of one month (3:40–41).

  • Three family groups descend from the three sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. These clans, often called the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites, later inherited the "cities of refuge" (Joshua 21). They also had various important roles in the Jerusalem temple (2 Chronicles 29:3–17).

Numbers 3:1–4:49

Israel's priests and Levites had duties like moving, assembling, protecting, and maintaining the Tent of Meeting. The way God organized the tribes highlighted his concern for these priestly tasks.

People

Levi: Son of Jacob; progenitor of the Levites Mahli: Son of Merari, grandson of Levi Merari: The third son of Levi and founder of the Merarites Mushi: A Levite, son of Merari, and head of a clan

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Census Deuteronomy, Book of Genealogy Gershon, Gershonites Izehar, Izeharites Kohath, Kohathites Mahli Merari, Merarite Mushi, Mushite Numbers, Book of Tabernacle Uzziel

Topics

Census: The Numbering of Israel by Moses Gershon: Son of Levi Levites: Enrollment of, at Mount Sinai Levites: Gershonites and Their Duties Levites: The Merarites The Levites: Families, As Numbered of Merari