1 Chronicles 6:16 — Word Study
WLCבְּנֵ֖י לֵוִ֑י גֵּרְשֹׁ֕ם קְהָ֖ת וּמְרָרִֽי׃
BSAtheseʼêl-leh whichʼăsher to standʻâmad DavidDâvid uponʻal handyâd songshîyr placebayith The LordYᵉhôvâh restingmânôwach arkʼârôwn
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בְּנֵ֖י | [the] sons of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| לֵוִ֑י | Levi | Noun proper masculine |
| גֵּרְשֹׁ֕ם | Gershom | Noun proper masculine |
| קְהָ֖ת | Kohath | Noun proper masculine |
| וּמְרָרִֽי׃ | and Merari | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. |
| KJV | ¶ The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. |
| ASV | The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. |
| YLT | Sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. |
| WEB | The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. |
| BBE | The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. |
Where they part company is בְּנֵי — see How Translations Differ.
The structure is straightforward, with a main clause followed by a simple list of names, emphasizing the lineage.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 1 Chronicles 6:16
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Genealogy of Levigenerated
1 Chronicles 6:16 provides a brief genealogy of the tribe of Levi, emphasizing the importance of this tribe in the Israelite community. The Levites were set apart for specific religious duties and responsibilities, and their lineage is crucial for understanding the structure of Israelite worship and service. This verse specifically names Gershom, Kohath, and Merari, who are significant ancestors in the Levitical line.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Chronicles 6:1 | The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. |
| 2 | Exodus 6:16 | These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בְּנֵ֖י, be.Neigenerated
The word בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants and family connections. It indicates lineage and inheritance, showing the importance of family relationships in the biblical context.
In this verse, it establishes the familial relationship of the Levites, indicating that Gershom, Kohath, and Merari are the sons of Levi, thus linking them directly to their father and the tribe's heritage.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is introduced by בְּנֵי, the sons of, which sets the subject of the verse as Levi's descendants. The structure is straightforward, listing the names of the three sons in succession.
The Hebrew syntax emphasizes the familial relationship by placing the noun 'sons' first, followed by the names, which highlights their significance within the tribe of Levi.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בְּנֵי as οὗτοι (these), which indicates a focus on the specific individuals being named. This choice suggests a more immediate identification of the sons of Levi for the Greek-speaking audience.
The use of οὗτοι may also imply a contextual emphasis on the importance of these figures within the lineage of the Levites.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 6:16 lists the sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. These names are important in the context of the priestly duties assigned to the Levites, showing their lineage and roles within Israel.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The sons of Levi were Gershom, Kohath, and Merari, who are significant figures in the priestly lineage of Israel.
The Levites were set apart for religious duties, serving in the tabernacle and later the temple, and were responsible for the care of sacred objects.
Genealogy establishes lineage and inheritance, showing the fulfillment of God's promises and the continuity of His covenant people.
The name Levi means 'attached' or 'joined to,' reflecting his significance in the Israelite community.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does it mean to be part of a spiritual lineage, and how does that apply to my faith today?
- How can understanding the roles of the Levites enhance my appreciation for worship and service in my community?
- In what ways can I honor the legacy of those who have gone before me in my faith?
- How does the naming of individuals in scripture help us understand God's plan for His people?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 6:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Which is repeated from 1 Chronicles 6:1 for the sake of their posterity, whose names are given in the three following verses, in the same manner as in Exodus 6:17.
Read John Gill on 1 Chronicles 6 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. The sons of Levi; Gershom ... This repetition (see 1 Chronicles 6:1) is made, as the historian here begins to trace the genealogy of the Levitical families who were not priests.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Chronicles 6 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThis he repeats, as the foundation of the following genealogy of those Levites who were not priests.
Read Matthew Poole on 1 Chronicles 6 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16-19) The three branches of Levi with their main subdivisions. Parallel passages, Exodus 6:16-19; Numbers 3:17-20. (16) Gershom.—See Note on 1 Chronicles 6:1. In the Pentateuch, Gershom is son of Moses; Gershon, son of Levi. (19) And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.—The word’families” (Heb., mishpehuth) does not mean single households, but groups of households, or clans. The sentence concludes the short list of the great Levitical houses, just as at Exodus 6:19. (See also Numbers 3:20, where a like formula appears to introduce what follows.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 6 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16–30 (= 1 Chronicles 6:1-15 according to the Heb. division). The three clans of the Levites. The Levitic Descent of Samuel the Prophet 16. Gershom] elsewhere Gershon. Gershom was the name of Moses’ son; Exodus 2:22.
Read Cambridge on 1 Chronicles 6 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleA general account of the several branches of the tribe of Levi.
Read Albert Barnes on 1 Chronicles 6 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
Tyndale line
¶ The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
The sonnes of Leui were Gershom, Kohath and Merari.
Strictly literal
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
Sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
Sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
(6:1) The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kehath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
From the Latin
So the sons of Levi were Gerson, Caath, and Merari.
Simplified
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all five words matched. This consistency indicates a stable tradition in the transmission of this genealogical record.
בְּנֵ֖י לֵוִ֑י גֵּרְשֹׁ֕ם קְהָ֖ת וּמְרָרִֽי׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 1 Chronicles 6:16
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
See SON, SONS.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
לֵוִי (Levi) refers to a man from the tribe of Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah. The name means 'attached' or 'joined to.' He is the father of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, and is first mentioned in Genesis 29:34. The entries indicate his significance as the progenitor of the Levites.
לֵוִי n.pr.m. Levi
base
H3878 לֵוִי Levi
3878 Leviy lay-vee'
from 3867; attached; Levi, a son of Jacob:--Levi. See also
3879, 3881.
see HEBREW for 03867
see HEBREW for 03879
see HEBREW for 03881
לֵוִי (le.vi) — Levi.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.34;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812);
brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);
half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);
father of: Gershon (H1648), Kohath (H6955), Merari (H4847) and Jochebed (H3115)
§ Levi = "joined to"
the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah and progenitor of tribe of Levites
HNpm — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Levi
Adhesion. (1.) The third son of Jacob by Leah. The origin of the name is found in Leah’s words (Gen. 29:34), “This time will my husband be joined [Heb. yillaveh] unto me.” He is mentioned as taking a prominent part in avenging his sister Dinah (Gen. 34:25-31). He and his three sons went down with Jacob (46:11) into Egypt, where he died at the age of one hundred and thirty-seven years (Ex. 6:16).
(joined). The name of the third son of Jacob by his wife Leah. (B.C. about 1753.) The name, derived from lavah , "to adhere," gave utterance to the hope of the mother that the affections of her husband, which had hitherto rested on the favored Rachel, would at last be drawn to her: "This time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons." (Genesis 29:34) Levi, with his brother Simeon, avenged with a cruel slaughter the outrage of their sister Dinah. [DINAH] Levi, with his three sons, Gershon, Kohath and Merari, went down to Egypt with his father Jacob. (Genesis 47:11) When Jacob’s death draws near, and the sons are gathered round him, Levi and Simeon hear the old crime brought up again to receive its sentence. They no less than Reuben, the incestuous…
1. The third son of Jacob and Leah, born in Mesopotamia; and father of three sons, and of Jochebed the mother of Moses, Ge 29:34 Ex 6:16-20. For his share in the treacherous massacre of the Shechemites, Ge 34:1-31, his father at death foreboded evil to his posterity, Ge 49:5-7; but as they afterwards stood forth on the Lord’s side, Moses was charged to bless them, Ex 32:26-29 De 33:8-11. The tribe of Levi was, according to Jacob’s prediction, scattered over all Israel, having no share in the cities in the portions of other tribes. All the tithes, first fruits, and…
associated with him
גֵּרְשֹׁם (Gershom) refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, primarily the firstborn son of Moses and Zipporah, and also a son of Levi. The name is associated with the meaning 'foreigner.' The entries note that Gershom is mentioned in contexts related to the Exodus and the priestly lineage, including references in Exodus and Ezra.
גֵּרְשֹׁם n.pr.m.
son of Moses and Ṣipporah
a son of Levi
a son of Phinehas
base
H1647 גֵּרְשֹׁם . son of Moses and Ṣipporah
. a son of Levi
. a son of Phinehas
1647 Gershom gay-resh-ome'
for 1648; Gereshom, the name of four Israelites:--Gershom.
see HEBREW for 01648
גֵּרְשֹׁם (ge.re.shom) — Gershom.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.2.22;
son of: Moses (H4872) and Zipporah (H6855);
brother of: Eliezer (H0461H);
father of: Jonathan (H3083)(?) and Shebuel (H7619)
§ Gershom = "foreigner"
1) firstborn son of Moses and Zipporah
2) firstborn son of Levi
3) a son of the priestly family of Phinehas who returned from exile with Ezra
גֵּרְשֹׁם (ge.re.shom) — Gershom.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.11;
son of: Levi (H3878);
brother of: Kohath (H6955), Merari (H4847) and Jochebed (H3115);
father of: Libni (H3845G) and Shimei (H8096G); also called Gershom at 1Ch.6.16,17,20,43,62,71; 15.7;
Another spelling of ge.re.shon (גֵּרְשׁוֹן "Gershon" H1648)
§ Gershom = "foreigner"
1) firstborn son of Moses and Zipporah
HNpm — Noun proper masculineHNpm
gur'-shom (gereshom, from garash, "to cast out"; explained, however, in Ex 2:22 and 18:3 as from gur, "For he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land"):
(1) Firstborn son of Moses and Zipporah. The only details of his life contained in the Pentateuch are the account of his circumcision (Ex 4:25), and his remaining under the care of Jethro, while Moses was in Egypt leading the Exodus. His descendants were numbered among the tribes of Levi (1Ch 23:14). One of them apparently was the Jonathan who officiated as priest of the idolatrous sanctuary at Dan, and whose descendants held the office until the captivity. The Massoretic Text inserts a suspended nun, "n," in the name of Moses (mosheh), causing it to be lead Manasseh…
Gershom
Expulsion. (1.) The eldest son of Levi (1 Chr. 6:16, 17, 20, 43, 62, 71; 15:7)=GERSHON (q.v.).
(2.) The elder of the two sons of Moses born to him in Midian (Ex. 2:22; 18:3). On his way to Egypt with his family, in obedience to the command of the Lord, Moses was attacked by a sudden and dangerous illness (4:24-26), which Zipporah his wife believed to have been sent because he had neglected to circumcise his son. She accordingly took a “sharp stone” and circumcised her son Gershom, saying, “Surely a bloody husband art thou to me”, i.e., by the blood of her child she had, as it were, purchased her husband, had won him back again.
(3.) A descendant of Phinehas who returned with Ezra from Babylon (Ezra 8:2).
(a stranger or exile). The first-born son of Moses and Zipporah. (Exodus 2:22; 18:3) (B.C. 1530.) The form under which the name GERSHON--the eldest son of Levi--is given in several passages of Chronicles, viz., (1 Chronicles 6:16,17,20,43,62,71; 15:7) The representative of the priestly family of Phinehas, among those who accompanied Ezra from Babylon. (Ezra 8:2) (B.C. 536.)
קְהָת (Qhath) refers to Kohath, a son of Levi and an important figure in the Israelite lineage. He is noted as the progenitor of a family within the tribe of Levi, with connections to other significant figures such as Gershon and Merari. The name is associated with the concept of assembly.
קְהָת 30 n.pr.m. son of Levi
base
H6955 קְהָת son of Levi
6955 Qhath keh-hawth'
from an unused root meaning to ally oneself; allied; Kehath,
an Israelite:--Kohath.
קְהָת (qe.hat) — Kohath.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.11;
son of: Levi (H3878);
brother of: Gershon (H1648), Merari (H4847) and Jochebed (H3115);
father of: Amram (H6019), Izhar (H3324), Hebron (H2275B) and Uzziel (H5816)
Also named: qo.ha.ti (קְהָתִי "Kohathite" H6956)
§ Kohath = "assembly"
the 2nd of the 3 sons of Levi and progenitor of a family in the tribe of Levi
HNpm — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Kohath
Assembly, the second son of Levi, and father of Amram (Gen. 46:11). He came down to Egypt with Jacob, and lived to the age of one hundred and thirty-three years (Ex. 6:18).
(assembly), second of the three sons of Levi, from whom the three principal divisions of the Levites derived their origin and their name. (Genesis 46:11; Exodus 6:16) In the journeyings of the tabernacle of the sons of Kohath (Kohathites) had charge of the most holy portions of the vessels. (Numbers 4:1) ... Of the personal history of Kohath we know nothing, except that he came down to Egypt with Levi and Jacob, (Genesis 46:11) that his sister was Jochebed, (Exodus 6:20) and that he lived to the age of 133 years. (Exodus 6:18) (B.C. about 1491.)
congregation; wrinkle; bluntness
מְרָרִי (Merari) refers to a son of Levi and the head of a prominent Levitical family. The name is derived from a root meaning 'bitter.' Merari is mentioned in the context of the Israelite tribes, specifically in Genesis 46:11, and is noted as the brother of Gershon and Kohath, and the father of Mahli and Mushi.
מְרָרִי n.pr.m. a son of Levi, and head of a chief Levit. family
base
H4847 מְרָרִי a son of Levi, and head of a chief Levit. family
4847 Mrariy mer-aw-ree'
from 4843; bitter; Merari, an Israelite:--Merari. See also
4848.
see HEBREW for 04843
see HEBREW for 04848
מְרָרִי (me.ra.ri) — Merari.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.11;
son of: Levi (H3878);
brother of: Gershon (H1648), Kohath (H6955) and Jochebed (H3115);
father of: Mahli (H4249), Mushi (H4187) and Jaaziah (H3269)
Also named: me.ra.ri (מְרָרִי "Merari" H4848)
§ Merari = "bitter"
the 3rd son of Levi and head of a Levitical family
HC/Npm — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
me-ra'-ri (merari, "bitter"; Mararei):
(1) The 3rd son of Levi, his brothers, Gershon and Kohath, being always mentioned together with him (Ge 46:11; Ex 6:16). He was among those 70 who went down to Egypt with Jacob (Ge 46:8,11; compare 46:26 and Ex 1:5).
(2) The family of Merari, descendants of above, and always (with one exception, for which see MERARITES) spoken of as "sons of Merari" in numerous references, such as 1Ch 6:1,16,19,29, which only repeat without additional information the references to be found in the body of this article. We early find them divided into two families, the Mahli and Mushi (
Merari
Sad; bitter, the youngest son of Levi, born before the descent of Jacob into Egypt, and one of the seventy who accompanied him thither (Gen. 46:11; Ex. 6:16). He became the head of one of the great divisions of the Levites (Ex. 6:19). (See MERARITES.)
The youngest of Levi’s three sons, born in Canaan, and head of a family of the Levites, Ge 46:11; Ex 6:16; Nu 3:17; 1Ch 6:1. In the journey through the wilderness they were charged with the framework of the tabernacle, to carry from one place of encampment to another, and there set it up, Nu 4:29-33; 7:8. Twelve cities were assigned to them beyond Jordan, Jos 21:7,34-40.
bitter; to provoke