Merarites

1 definition found

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Merarites
     the descendants of Merari (Num. 26:57). They with the
     Gershonites and the Kohathites had charge of the tabernacle,
     which they had to carry from place to place (Num. 3:20, 33-37;
     4:29-33). In the distribution of the oxen and waggons offered by
     the princes (Num. 7), Moses gave twice as many to the Merarites


     (four waggons and eight oxen) as he gave to the Gershonites,
     because the latter had to carry only the lighter furniture of
     the tabernacle, such as the curtains, hangings, etc., while the
     former had to carry the heavier portion, as the boards, bars,
     sockets, pillars, etc., and consequently needed a greater supply
     of oxen and waggons. This is a coincidence illustrative of the
     truth of the narrative. Their place in marching and in the camp
     was on the north of the tabernacle. The Merarites afterwards
     took part with the other Levitical families in the various
     functions of their office (1 Chr. 23:6, 21-23; 2 Chr. 29:12,
     13). Twelve cities with their suburbs were assigned to them
     (Josh. 21:7, 34-40).