33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these were the families of Merari. 34 Their numbered men in the counting of every male from a month old and upward: 6,200. 35 And the leader of the fathers’ households of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They were to (A)camp on the northward side of the tabernacle. 36 Now the appointment of duties of the sons of Merari included the framework of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its bases, all its equipment, and all the service concerning them, 37 and the pillars around the courtyard with their bases, their pegs, and their ropes.

38 Now those who were to (B)camp in front of the tabernacle eastward, in front of the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, performing the duties of the sanctuary for the obligation of the sons of Israel; but (C)the [a]layman coming near was to be put to death. 39 All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the [b]command of the Lord by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were (D)twenty-two thousand.

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 3:38 Lit stranger
  2. Numbers 3:39 Lit mouth

33 To Merari belonged the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites: these are the clans of Merari. 34 Their listing according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward was 6,200. 35 And the chief of the fathers' house of the clans of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. 36 (A)And the appointed guard duty of the sons of Merari involved the (B)frames of the tabernacle, (C)the bars, (D)the pillars, the bases, and all their accessories; all the service connected with these; 37 also (E)the pillars around the court, with their bases and (F)pegs and (G)cords.

38 Those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, (H)guarding the sanctuary itself, to protect[a] the people of Israel. And any outsider who came near was to be put to death. 39 All those listed among the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron listed at the commandment of the Lord, by clans, all the males from a month old and upward, were (I)22,000.

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 3:38 Hebrew guard