Numbers 3 35

Numbers 3:35 kjv

And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.

Numbers 3:35 nkjv

The leader of the fathers' house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. These were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.

Numbers 3:35 niv

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

Numbers 3:35 esv

And the chief of the fathers' house of the clans of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.

Numbers 3:35 nlt

They were assigned the area north of the Tabernacle for their camp. The leader of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail.

Numbers 3 verses

Numbers 3 35 Meaning

Numbers 3:35 identifies Zuriel, son of Abihail, as the appointed chief over the Merarite clan, one of the three major divisions of the Levitical tribe. This verse specifically states his role as the head of the families that descended from Merari, underscoring their organized encampment and designated responsibilities concerning the transport and care of the Tabernacle's heavy components during Israel's wilderness journey.

Numbers 3 35 Context

Numbers chapter 3 describes the census of the Levitical tribe, distinguishing them from the general census of the other Israelite tribes found in Numbers chapters 1 and 2. While the other tribes were counted for military purposes and organized for encampment around the Tabernacle, the Levites were specifically dedicated to the Lord's service, acting as guardians and movers of the Tabernacle.

This chapter details the three main Levitical clans—Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites—assigning each family specific duties related to the Tabernacle. The historical context is that of Israel in the wilderness, after their Exodus from Egypt and before entering the Promised Land. The Tabernacle was the portable center of God's presence, worship, and the Israelites' communal life. Its maintenance, dismantling, and reassembly were paramount to their journey. God's meticulous instructions concerning its care reflect His holiness and His demand for an orderly approach to divine service. The establishment of precise leadership, like Zuriel for the Merarites, highlights God's design for accountability and specialized roles within His chosen people. This also indirectly served as a polemic against the disorganized and idolatrous worship practices of surrounding pagan cultures, emphasizing YHWH's systematic and sacred order.

Numbers 3 35 Word Analysis

• And (וְ, wᵉ): A simple connective, indicating continuation within the narrative, linking this statement to the preceding enumeration of the Merarite families.
• the chief (נָשִׂיא, nasīʾ): Refers to a prince, leader, or chieftain. In this context, it designates the head or overseer, implying administrative authority and responsibility over his specific familial group and their duties. This leader was not necessarily a priest but held a crucial role in the hierarchical structure of service.
• of the house of the father (בֵּית־אָב, bêt-ʾāb): This phrase refers to a patriarchal household or a major ancestral family unit within a tribe or clan. It signifies a primary division based on lineage, highlighting the importance of family identity and structure in Israelite society and divine appointments.
• of the families (מִשְׁפָּחֹת, mishpāḥōt): Plural of mishpāḥâ, meaning a family group, clan, or extended family. This term denotes the collective households that comprised the larger clan, further detailing the precise organizational layers within the tribe.
• of Merari (מְרָרִי, Mᵉrārî): One of the three sons of Levi, the progenitor of this particular Levitical clan. The Merarites were specifically tasked with the care and transport of the Tabernacle's heavy, structural components like planks, bars, pillars, and sockets (Num 3:36; 4:31-32), highlighting the physical strength and responsibility required for their role.
• was Zuriel (צוּרִיאֵל, Tsûrîʾēl): A proper name. It means "My Rock is God" or "God is my Rock." This name carries theological weight, reminding those appointed to serve that their true strength and foundation come from God, emphasizing trust and dependence on the Divine.
• the son of Abihail (אֲבִיחַיִל, ʾAvîhayil): A proper name meaning "My Father is Strength/Might" or "Father of Might." This part of the name indicates lineage and potentially refers to the esteemed character or status of Zuriel's father, linking Zuriel's authority to his patriarchal heritage.
• these were the tents (אֵלֶּה הָאֹהָלִים, ʾēlleh hāʾohālîm): "These were" points to the specified leader and family group. "Tents" literally refers to their dwelling places, but it also metaphorically signifies their communal identity and organizational units as they encamped. It highlights their nomadic existence and implies their designated camping ground in the wilderness relative to the Tabernacle, underscoring their ordered life centered around God's presence.
• of Merari (לְמֵרָרִי, lᵉMērārî): Reiteration specifying that these described "tents" or family encampments belonged to the Merarite clan, further delineating their unique organizational structure and designated position within the overall Israelite camp.

Numbers 3 35 Bonus Section

• The census of the Levites in Numbers 3 (compared to the military census of other tribes in Num 1) emphasizes their distinct sacred calling, set apart specifically for priestly and Tabernacle service. This census was from one month old and upward, distinct from the military census of 20 years and upward.
• The naming of family heads like Zuriel serves not only for organizational clarity but also for establishing ancestral identity, crucial for a people who valued lineage and the continuity of God's covenant promises across generations.
• The fact that the Merarites handled the heavy and sturdy elements of the Tabernacle, while the Gershonites handled lighter coverings and the Kohathites the most sacred vessels (carried on shoulders), symbolizes the varying yet equally essential roles in serving God. All contributions, regardless of perceived prestige, are vital for the proper functioning of the community and worship.

Numbers 3 35 Commentary

Numbers 3:35 is a seemingly simple genealogical statement, yet it profoundy reflects God's meticulous nature in establishing order and purpose within His covenant community. By naming Zuriel, son of Abihail, as the appointed head of the Merarite families, God highlights the principle of divine appointment to specific roles within His service. This was not a self-assumed position but a divinely ordained one, reinforcing that every task in God's kingdom, from the highest priestly duties to the humble labor of carrying the heavy Tabernacle frames, has its designated leadership and a place within a grand divine scheme. The meticulous detailing of families and their leaders ensures accountability and reinforces the idea that chaos has no place in God's dealings (1 Cor 14:33). It speaks to the importance of structured worship and operation within God's people, where even the foundational physical burdens of the Tabernacle's structure were handled with order and designated leadership, preventing confusion and enabling efficient, consecrated service to the Holy One.