The Descendants of Merari and Their Duties

³³ The families of Mahli and Mushi were descendants of Merari. As families of Merari, ³⁴ all the males a month old and above numbered 6,200. ³⁵ The leader of the tribe and family of Merari was Abihail’s son Zuriel. The descendants of Merari encamped beside the tent toward the north. ³⁶ The duties of the caretakers from the descendants of Merari included the boards of the tent, its bars, crossbars, sockets, all its utensils for their services, ³⁷ the pillars around the courtyard, their sockets, pegs, and tent cords.

The Encampment of Moses and Aaron

³⁸ In front of the tent and east of the Tent of Meeting, Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s^[a] sons encamped facing the east. They were tasked to perform the duties of the sanctuary and care for the needs of the Israelis. Any unauthorized^[b] person who approached was to be executed. ³⁹ As the Lord had instructed, everyone counted by Moses and Aaron from the descendants of Levi, according to their tribe, all males from a month old and above numbered 22,000.