Numbers 3:36

Translations

Modern

The duties assigned to the sons of Merari were the tabernacle’s frames, crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment—all the service for these items,

Traditional

And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto,

Literal

And the appointed duty of the sons of Merari was the boards of the tabernacle, and its bars, and its pillars, and its bases, and its vessels, and all its service;

Latin

Erunt sub custodia eorum tabulæ tabernaculi et vectes, et columnæ ac bases earum, et omnia quæ ad cultum hujuscemodi pertinent:

Original

Hebrew

English

The duties assigned to the sons of Merari were the tabernacle’s frames, crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment—all the service for these items,

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.

Related verses

Exodus 26:37
Make five posts of acacia wood for the curtain, overlay them with gold, use hooks of gold, and cast five bronze bases for them.
Exodus 26:15–29
You are to construct upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle.
Exodus 26:32
Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases.
Numbers 7:8
…and he gave the Merarites four carts and eight oxen, as their service required, all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
Exodus 35:11
…the tabernacle with its tent and covering, its clasps and frames, its crossbars, posts, and bases;
Exodus 39:33
Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent with all its furnishings, its clasps, its frames, its crossbars, and its posts and bases;
Exodus 27:9–19
You are also to make a courtyard for the tabernacle. On the south side of the courtyard make curtains of finely spun linen, a hundred cubits long on one side,
Exodus 35:18
…the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, along with their ropes;
Numbers 4:29–33
As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their clans and families,
Exodus 36:36
He also made four posts of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold, along with gold hooks; and he cast four silver bases for the posts.
Exodus 36:20–34
Next, he constructed upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle.
Exodus 38:17–20
The bases for the posts were bronze, the hooks and bands were silver, and the plating for the tops of the posts was silver. So all the posts of the courtyard were banded with silver.

Parallels

Numbers 4:29–33 1 Chronicles 23:21–23

People

Merari: The third son of Levi and founder of the Merarites

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Census Deuteronomy, Book of Genealogy Merari, Merarite Numbers, Book of Tabernacle

Topics

Census: The Numbering of Israel by Moses Levites: Enrollment of, at Mount Sinai Levites: Functions of had Charge of the Tabernacle in the Encampments and on the March Levites: The Merarites

Numbers 3:36

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