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33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari. 34 Those who were counted of them, according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred.[a]

35 The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They shall encamp on the north side of the tabernacle. 36 The appointed duty of the sons of Merari shall be the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its instruments, all its service, 37 the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords.

38 Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, with Aaron and his sons, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary for the duty of the children of Israel. The outsider who comes near shall be put to death. 39 All who were counted of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the commandment of Yahweh, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:34 + 22,000 is the sum rounded to 2 significant digits. The sum of the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites given above is 22,300, but the traditional Hebrew text has the number rounded to 2 significant digits, not 3 significant digits.

33 To Merari belonged[a] the clan of Mahlites[b] and the clan of the Mushites:[c] these are the clans of Merari. 34 The ones counted[d] according to the number of every male from one month[e] and above were six thousand two hundred. 35 The leader of the family[f] according to the clans of Merari is Zuriel son of Abihail; they will encamp of the side of the tabernacle to the north. 36 The responsibility of the sons of Merari was the supervision of the frames of the tabernacle, its bars, pillars, bases, and all its vessels and all its service, 37 and the pillars around the courtyard, and their bases, pegs, and cords.

38 Those encamped before the tabernacle to the east—before the tent of assembly to the east—were Moses and Aaron and his sons; they will keep the responsibility of the sanctuary for the Israelites;[g] and the stranger[h] who approaches will be put to death. 39 All those counted from the Levites whom Moses and Aaron mustered[i] according to the word of Yahweh,[j] according to their clans, every male from one month[k] and above were twenty-two thousand.

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 3:33 Literally “for Merari was
  2. Numbers 3:33 Hebrew “Mahlite”
  3. Numbers 3:33 Hebrew “Mushite”
  4. Numbers 3:34 Literally “the ones counted of them,” or “the ones mustered of them”
  5. Numbers 3:34 Literally “the son of a month”
  6. Numbers 3:35 Literally “the house of his father”
  7. Numbers 3:38 Literally “for the responsibility of the children of Israel”
  8. Numbers 3:38 Or “outsider”
  9. Numbers 3:39 Or “counted,” or “summoned,” or “enrolled”
  10. Numbers 3:39 Literally “the mouth of Yahweh”
  11. Numbers 3:39 Literally “the son of a month”