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Numbers 3:35

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The leader of the families of the Merarites was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 35

This chapter and the next are concerning the tribe of Levi, which was to be mustered and marshalled by itself, and not in common with the other tribes, intimating the particular honour put upon them and the particular duty and service required from them. The Levites are in this chapter considered, I. As attendants on, and assistants to, the priests in the temple-service. And so we have an account, 1. Of the priests themselves (Num 3:1-4) and their work (Num 3:10). 2. Of the gift of the Levites to them (Num 3:5-9), in order to which they are mustered (Num 3:14-16), and the sum of them taken (Num 3:39). Each particular family of them is mustered, has its place assigned and its charge, the Gershonites (Num 3:17-26), the Kohathites (Num 3:27-32), the Merarites (Num 3:33-39). II. As equivalents for the first-born (Num 3:11-13). 1. The first-born are numbered, and the Levites taken instead of them, as far as the number of the Levites went (Num 3:40-45). 2. What first-born there were more than the Levites were redeemed (Num 3:46, etc.).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 35

נָשִׂיא (nâsîyʼ, H5387) — properly, an exalted one, i.e. a king or sheik; also a rising mist בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpâchâh, H4940) — a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of… מְרָרִי (Mᵉrârîy, H4847) — Merari, an Israelite צוּרִיאֵל (Tsûwrîyʼêl, H6700) — Tsuriel, an Israelite בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אֲבִיהַיִל (ʼĂbîyhayil, H32) — Abihail or Abichail, the name of three Israelites and two Israelitesses חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… יָרֵךְ (yârêk, H3409) — the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphemistically the generative parts;… מִשְׁכָּן (mishkân, H4908) — a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the grave;… צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown)

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Numbers 2:25rank 4

On the north side, the divisions of Dan are to camp under their standard:

Numbers 1:53rank 4

But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the congregation of Israel. So the Levites are responsible for the tabernacle of the Testimony.”

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