Merari

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In the Old Testament, Merari is the youngest son of Levi and ancestor of the Merarites.

etymology

An explanation of the Hebrew name מְרָרִי Merari can be found in the Aramaic Levi Document . There the name is derived from the verb מרר mrr "to be bitter". This refers to the extra-biblical tradition that Levi was dying while Merari was born. In the Septuagint the name is μεραρι merari .

Biblical report

Merari

In several places Merari is named as Levi's third and youngest son (e.g. Gen 46.11  EU and Ex 6.16  EU ). His brothers are called Gerschon and Kehat , his sister Jochebed ( Num 26.59  EU ). According to Ex 6.19  EU, Merari's sons are Machli and Muschi. According to Num 3,33  EU, Merari is the progenitor of the Merarites, the Machlites and the Muschites descend from his sons.

Meraritans

As Levites, the Meraritans have to serve at the tent of revelation . According to Num 3.36–37  EU , one of their tasks was: “Care for the boards of the dwelling, its crossbars, columns and plinths, their equipment and everything that was part of this service, also for the pillars of the surrounding courtyard, their plinths, their tent pegs and ropes. ”According to Num 3.44  EU the number of male Meraritans is 3200. According to Num 7.8  EU , the Meraritans receive four wagons and eight cattle from the consecration offerings of the tribal leaders for the inauguration of the revelation tent .

In the land of Canaan , the Levites do not receive their own land. Instead, they are assigned cities to live in. According to Jos 21.34–39 EU, the Meraritans received  four cities each from the tribes Ruben (Bezer, Jahaz, Kedemot, Mefaat), Gad (the asylum city of Ramot-Gilead, Mahanajim, Heschbon, Jaser) and Zebulon (Jokneam, Karta, Dimna , Nahalal).

Merari, Judit's father

Another Merari is Judit's father according to Jdt 8,1  EU and 16,6 EU .

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