MERARI
“bitter, sad.” Son of Levi and founder of one of the three great families of the Levites (Gen. 46:11; Ex. 6:16; Num. 26:57).
The family or descendants of Merari camped, during the pilgrimage through the desert, on the north side of the Tabernacle (Num. 3:35).
This family was in charge of the tables of the tabernacle, its bars, columns, bases, fixtures and articles for the service (Num. 3:36; 4:29-33), and was under the direction of Ithamar, the youngest of the sons of Aaron (Num. 4:33).
They received four carts and eight oxen to transport this material (Num. 7:8). The family of Merari was divided into two branches: those of Mahli and Musi (Num. 3:20, 23).
During the first census in the wilderness, the Merarites numbered 6,200 males over one month old (Num. 3:33, 34), a smaller number than the other two Levitical families.
Of these 6,200 there were 3,200, between 30 and 50 years of age (Num. 4:4245), more than in the other families. Twelve cities were assigned to them: four from the tribe of Zebulun, four from Reuben, four from Gad.
Two of these locations, Ramoth Gilead and Bezer, were cities of refuge (Deut. 4:43; Josh. 21:34-40; 1 Chron. 6:63, 77-81). David carried out the reorganization of the Merarites (1 Chron. 23:6, 21-23).
With the other Levites, they had to attend to the musical service of the sanctuary, and they performed six of the twenty-four such functions (1 Chron. 6:31, 44; 25:3).
There were Merarites among the pious Israelites who helped Hezekiah cleanse the Temple (2 Chron. 29:12). Some renowned Merarites returned to Jerusalem with Ezra after the exile (Ezra 8:18, 19).