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The Service of the Merarites

29 “As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their families and by their clans. 30 You must number them from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting. 31 This is what they are responsible to carry as their entire service in the tent of meeting: the frames[a] of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets, 32 and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their sockets, tent pegs, and ropes, along with all their furnishings and everything for their service. You are to assign by name the items that each man is responsible to carry.[b] 33 This is the service of the families of the Merarites, their entire service concerning the tent of meeting, under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 4:31 sn More recent studies have concluded that these supports were made of two long uprights joined by cross-bars (like a ladder). They were frames rather than boards, meaning that the structure under the tent was not a solid building. It also meant that they would have been lighter to carry.
  2. Numbers 4:32 tn Heb “you shall assign by names the vessels of the responsibility of their burden.”

29 For the descendants[a] of Merari according to their clans, according to their families,[b] you will muster[c] them; 30 from those thirty years old[d] and above until fifty years old;[e] you will muster[f] them, all who come to do the work of the tent of assembly. 31 And this is the responsibility of those who are to carry,[g] all their work in the tent of assembly: the frames of the tabernacle and its bars, pillars, and bases, 32 and the pillars of the courtyard all around, and their bases, pegs, and cords, with all their vessels and for all their work. You will appoint by name the vessels that they are responsible to carry. 33 This is the work of the clan of the descendants[h] of Merari, for all their work in the tent of assembly under the direction[i] of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 4:29 Or “sons”
  2. Numbers 4:29 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  3. Numbers 4:29 Or “count,” or “summon,” or “enroll”
  4. Numbers 4:30 Literally “a son of thirty years”
  5. Numbers 4:30 Literally “a son of fifty years”
  6. Numbers 4:30 Or “count,” or “summon,” or “enroll”
  7. Numbers 4:31 Literally “them carrying”
  8. Numbers 4:33 Or “sons”
  9. Numbers 4:33 Literally “in the hand”