Merarites’ Service
Numbers 4:29-33
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Num.4.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- מררי: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- למשפחתם: PREP,NOUN,f,sg,abs,PRON,3,pl
- לבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cns
- אבתם: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss3,m,pl
- תפקד: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Num.3.36 (verbal): Repeats the same formula about the Merarite clan — "למשפחתם לבית אבותם" — in the earlier listing of Levite families.
- Num.4.24 (verbal): Uses the identical phrasing (appointment by families and fathers' houses) for the Gershonite Levites — a parallel administrative formula within the same chapter.
- Num.4.19 (structural): Another Levite clan (the Kohathites) is organized and assigned duties by families and fathers' houses, showing the same structural procedure for organizing Levite service.
- 1 Chr.23.6-7 (thematic): Chronicles recapitulates the division of the Levites (including the sons of Merari) into families and their respective duties, echoing the Numbers organization of clans and households.
Alternative generated candidates
- Take a census of the sons of Merari also, by their clans, by their fathers' households.
- Take a census of the sons of Merari also, by their clans, by their fathers' households.
Num.4.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- מבן: PREP
- שלשים: NUM,m,pl,abs
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ומעלה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- ועד: CONJ+PREP
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חמשים: NUM,card,pl
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תפקדם: VERB,qal,impf,2,ms+PRON,3,pl
- כל: DET
- הבא: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לצבא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לעבד: VERB,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- עבדת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- אהל: NOUN,m,sg,construct
- מועד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Num.4:3 (verbal): Same age-range formula ("from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old") applied to the Kohathite duties—verbal parallel within the same chapter.
- Num.4:47 (verbal): Repeats the identical age-limits for another Levitical family’s service—another direct verbal parallel in the Numbers 4 census/regulation section.
- Num.8:24-26 (verbal): Gives a closely related Levitical service-age regulation (from twenty‑five years to fifty years) — related legal tradition about age for temple service with a different lower bound.
- 1 Chr.23:24-27 (structural): David’s reorganization of Levites sets service duties and an upper limit of fifty years (and a lower training/working age), reflecting and adapting the Mosaic regulations on Levitical service.
Alternative generated candidates
- From thirty years old and upward to fifty years you shall count them—every one who comes for duty to perform the service of the Tent of Meeting.
- From thirty years old and upward to fifty years old you shall count them—everyone who is to be mustered to do the work of the service of the Tent of Meeting.
Num.4.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וזאת: CONJ+DEM,f,sg
- משמרת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- משאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3mp
- לכל: PREP
- עבדתם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- באהל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מועד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קרשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- המשכן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ובריחיו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,3ms
- ועמודיו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,poss3ms
- ואדניו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,3ms
Parallels
- Exodus 26:15-30 (verbal): Gives the detailed instructions for the tabernacle's boards, bars, pillars and sockets—the same components named in Num 4:31.
- Exodus 25:13 (verbal): Commands provision of staves for carrying sacred furnishings (e.g., the ark); parallels Num 4:31's concern with how the tabernacle elements are to be borne.
- Numbers 4:5-15 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same chapter specifying the duties and restrictions of the Kohathite carriers and how they are to handle/transport holy objects.
- 1 Chronicles 23:27-32 (thematic): Outlines later Levitical assignments regarding care, service and transport of the sanctuary—echoing Num 4:31’s allocation of responsibilities for the tabernacle's boards, bars and fittings.
Alternative generated candidates
- And this is the charge of their burdens for all their service in the Tent of Meeting: the planks of the tabernacle and its crossbars, and its pillars and its sockets.
- And this is the charge of their burden for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: the planks of the tabernacle and its bars, its pillars and their bases.
Num.4.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועמודי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cs
- החצר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- סביב: ADV
- ואדניהם: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,3,pl
- ויתדתם: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,3,pl
- ומיתריהם: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,3,pl
- לכל: PREP
- כליהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ולכל: CONJ+PREP+DET
- עבדתם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- ובשמת: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תפקדו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- כלי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- משמרת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- משאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3mp
Parallels
- Exodus 25:13-15 (verbal): Gives the instruction to make poles (handles) for the ark so it may be borne — direct verbal parallel to 'poles' and carrying implements mentioned in Num 4:32.
- Exodus 26:26-30 (structural): Detailed instructions for bars, rings, and insertion of poles into the tabernacle frames — parallels the technical/structural equipment andmeans of transport for the sacred furniture.
- Exodus 40:21-22 (verbal): Narrative account of placing the poles into the rings of the ark and setting the holy things in place — echoes the practical procedure of preparing and bearing the sacred vessels.
- Numbers 4:4-15 (structural): Immediate literary parallel within the same chapter describing the Kohathites' duties in handling and carrying the holy things — clarifies the rules and responsibilities summarized in 4:32.
- 1 Chronicles 15:15 (thematic): Describes Levites carrying the ark with poles on their shoulders in conformity with the divine ordinance — thematic parallel about Levite service and transport of sacred equipment.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the pillars of the court all around, and their sockets, and their pegs, and their cords—every article of their equipment and all their service; these you shall assign as the implements of their burden-bearing charge.
- And the pillars of the court all around, and their sockets, and their pegs, and their cords—for all their vessels and for all their service—and you shall assign to them the implements of the charge of their burden.
Num.4.33 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- זאת: DEM,f,sg
- עבדת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- משפחת: NOUN,f,sg,cstr
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- מררי: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לכל: PREP
- עבדתם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- באהל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מועד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- איתמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Numbers 4:31-32 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the same chapter repeating the formula for the service of the family of Merari and the oversight by Ithamar — same wording and context.
- Numbers 3:31-32 (thematic): Earlier assignment of the Merarite family's charge over the frames, pillars and bases of the tabernacle — the same allocation of duties summarized in Num 4:33.
- 1 Chronicles 23:28-32 (thematic): Post‑exilic genealogical summary that lists the divisions and specific duties of the Merarites over the works of the tent, echoing the occupational role described in Num 4:33.
- Numbers 4:4-15 (structural): Parallel treatment of another Levite family (the Kohathites) with assigned tabernacle duties and supervision by a son of Aaron (Eleazar), showing the recurring pattern of family duties and priestly oversight reflected in Num 4:33.
Alternative generated candidates
- This is the service of the family of the sons of Merari for all their service at the Tent of Meeting; and their oversight is in the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
- This is the service of the family of the sons of Merari for all their service at the Tent of Meeting; and their oversight is in the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
Take a census of the sons of Merari also, by their clans, by their fathers' households.
From thirty years old and upward to fifty years old you shall number them—every one who comes to the service to do the work at the Tent of Meeting. And this is the burden assigned them for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets. And the pillars of the court all around, and their sockets, and their pegs and their cords; all the utensils of the service and all that pertains to their work—you shall assign to them for the bearing of their burden.
This is the service of the family of the sons of Merari for all their work at the Tent of Meeting; and their oversight is in the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.