Numbers 4 29

Numbers 4:29 kjv

As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;

Numbers 4:29 nkjv

"As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families and by their fathers' house.

Numbers 4:29 niv

"Count the Merarites by their clans and families.

Numbers 4:29 esv

"As for the sons of Merari, you shall list them by their clans and their fathers' houses.

Numbers 4:29 nlt

"Now record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Merarite division of the tribe of Levi.

Numbers 4 verses

Numbers 4 29 Meaning

Numbers 4:29 provides specific instructions for the census of the Merarite clan, one of the three primary Levitical families. It mandates that their registration, a crucial act for assigning their Tabernacle duties, must be meticulously carried out according to their established family units: both their broader clans and their individual fathers' houses. This detailed registration ensured order, accountability, and the proper fulfillment of their weighty responsibilities in dismantling, transporting, and reassembling the Tent of Meeting during Israel's wilderness journeys.

Numbers 4 29 Context

Numbers chapter 4 focuses on the detailed census and specific duties of the Levite families: the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. This chapter follows their initial numbering in chapter 3 and precedes the actual organization of their wilderness journey and encampment. Each family received distinct, divinely appointed responsibilities for handling various components of the Tabernacle during its transport. The Merarites, highlighted in verse 29, were assigned the arduous task of transporting the Tabernacle's most structural and heavy components, such as its frames, bars, pillars, bases, and pegs. This verse initiates the specific command for their registration, essential for organizing their work and assigning the proper personnel for these weighty duties. Historically, such precise enumerations were vital for managing large populations, particularly for military purposes, land allocation, and the intricate organization required for a mobile divine sanctuary in a wilderness setting.

Numbers 4 29 Word analysis

• As for the sons of Merari (וּבְנֵי מְרָרִי - Uvene Merari):
  • "Sons of Merari" designates the descendants of Merari, one of the three sons of Levi (Exod 6:16; Num 3:17). The Merarites were the third major branch of the Levite tribe responsible for specific Tabernacle duties.
  • Their primary task was the heaviest burden: carrying the framework, pillars, bases, and other structural components of the Tabernacle (Num 4:31-32). This task was assigned according to God's precise instruction, signifying that every role, regardless of its perceived difficulty, is divinely ordained and important for God's purposes in the holy service.
• you shall register them (תִּפְקֹד אֹתָם - tifqod otam):
  • The Hebrew verb is "paqad" (פָּקַד), meaning "to visit," "to inspect," "to muster," "to count," "to appoint." It signifies an official enrollment, an enumeration for the purpose of assigning service and responsibility.
  • This term is frequently used in military contexts and in relation to priestly duties, emphasizing order, accountability, and divine oversight. It implies that their service was not arbitrary but precisely documented and ordered by God through Moses.
  • This precise counting ensured that enough men of the correct age and lineage were available for the arduous task, preventing negligence and guaranteeing that all essential parts of the Tabernacle would be accounted for and properly moved.
• by their clans (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם - l'mishp'chotam):
  • "Clans" (mishpachah) refers to a larger subdivision within a tribe, often consisting of several fathers' houses. This signifies a recognition of the broader familial structure beyond just the immediate household.
  • This level of organization provided a framework for grouping related families for their service, facilitating communal effort and supervision within their specific duties.
• and by their fathers' houses (וּלְבֵית אֲבֹתָם - u'l'beit avotam):
  • "Fathers' houses" (beit avot) refers to the smallest unit, the extended household under a common male ancestor, sometimes including multiple generations. This represents the immediate family lineage.
  • Requiring registration at this granular level ensured precision in identifying every individual eligible for service and underscores the importance of individual accountability within the larger familial and tribal structure. It highlights the deeply personal and ancestral ties inherent in Israelite society and its administration.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "As for the sons of Merari, you shall register them": This phrase emphasizes the specific divine command to count this particular Levitical family. It highlights God's systematic and meticulous approach to organizing His people for sacred service, demonstrating that no part of the community or its duties was left to chance or human discretion. This divine attention to each family group assures an orderly operation.
  • "by their clans and by their fathers' houses": This repetition of two levels of family organization (clans and fathers' houses) underlines the exhaustive and precise nature of the census. It ensures every male of age, within their specific lineage, is accounted for. This structured approach reflects God's divine order and method, providing clarity, accountability, and efficient allocation of responsibilities, preventing chaos and promoting harmony within the service of the Tabernacle. This double specificity prevents any person from being overlooked or any role remaining unassigned.

Numbers 4 29 Bonus section

• The repeated phrase "by their clans and by their fathers' houses" across Numbers (e.g., Num 1:2, 18; 2:34; 3:15) demonstrates a foundational principle of Israelite society and governance: identity and function were deeply rooted in family and lineage. This familial structure was integral to their civil, military, and spiritual administration, highlighting God's order established within existing societal norms.
• The weightiness of the Merarites' task, literally carrying the heavy structural elements, contrasts with the sacred but less physically burdensome tasks of the Kohathites (carrying the most holy objects directly) and the textile-related duties of the Gershonites (carrying coverings and curtains). This serves as a reminder that within God's service, different burdens are assigned according to the nature of the task and divine wisdom, yet each is equally vital for the whole to function properly. No role, however seemingly strenuous, is less valuable in God's sight.
• The command for detailed registration implicitly points to the future accountability of the individuals to God and to their community. Each person had a known place and a defined responsibility within God's mobile sanctuary, teaching future generations about diligent and ordered service to the Lord. This precise accounting underscored a covenantal responsibility.

Numbers 4 29 Commentary

Numbers 4:29 encapsulates God's pervasive attribute of order and His meticulous attention to detail in the execution of His divine commands. The registration of the Merarites, like that of the other Levitical families, was not a mere demographic count but an enrollment for sacred service. This detailed accounting ensured that every male eligible for Tabernacle duties was identified, organized by his specific family units, and thus made accountable for his appointed task. The Merarites, with their heavy burdens, required precise assignment and coordination for the complex logistics of moving the sacred dwelling. This divine blueprint for organized service underscores that every believer's service in God's kingdom, no matter how "heavy" or "light," is valued and integrated into a greater, ordered whole, necessitating commitment, responsibility, and cooperation within their specific gifting and callings to ensure God's work proceeds in an orderly fashion.