Merari me-ra'-ri (merari, "bitter"; Mararei):
(1) The 3rd son of Levi, his brothers, Gershon and Kohath, being always mentioned together with him (Genesis 46:11, Exodus 6:16). He was among those 70 who went down to Egypt with Jacob (Genesis 46:8, Genesis 46:11; compare Genesis 46:26 and Exodus 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 1 Chronicles 6:1, 1 Chronicles 6:16, 1 Chronicles 6:19, 1 Chronicles 6:29, 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 (Exodus 6:19, Numbers 3:17, Numbers 3:20, Numbers 3:33). At the exodus they numbered, under their chief Zuriel, 6,200, and they were assigned the north side of the tabernacle as a tenting-place (Numbers 3:34, Numbers 3:35), thus sharing in the honor of those who immediately surrounded the tabernacle-the south side being given to the Kohathites, the west to the Gershonites, and the east-toward the sun-rising-being reserved for Moses, Aaron and his sons (Numbers 3:23, Numbers 3:29, Numbers 3:35, Numbers 3:38). To the Merarites was entrusted the care of the boards, bars, pillars, sockets, vessels, pins and cords of the tabernacle (Numbers 3:36, Numbers 3:37, Numbers 4:29-33). They and the Gershonites were "under the hand" of Ithamar, son of Aaron, the sons of Gershon having charge of the softer material of the tabernacles -curtains, covers, hangings, etc. (Numbers 3:25, Numbers 3:26). When reckoned by the number fit for service, i.e. between 30 and 50 years, the sons of Merari were 3,200 strong (Numbers 4:42-45). Because of the weight of the material in their charge they were allowed 4 wagons and 8 oxen for carriage (Numbers 7:8). In marching, when the tabernacle was taken down, the standard of Judah went first (Numbers 10:14); then followed the Merarites bearing the tabernacle (Numbers 10:17), and after them came the standard of Reuben (Numbers 10:18). After the settlement in Canaan they had 12 cities assigned them out of Gad, Reuben and Zebulun (Joshua 21:7, Joshua 21:34-40, 1 Chronicles 6:63, 1 Chronicles 6:77-81), just as the other two branches of Levi's family had their 12 cities respectively assigned out of the other tribes (Joshua 21:1). The names of these Merarite cities are given (loc. cit.), and among them is Ramoth-gilead, one of the cities of refuge (Joshua 21:38). It is evident from 1 Chronicles 6:44-47, 1 Chronicles 16:41, 1 Chronicles 25:1, 1 Chronicles 25:3, 1 Chronicles 25:6, 1 Chronicles 25:9, 1 Chronicles 25:11, 1 Chronicles 25:15, 1 Chronicles 25:19, 1 Chronicles 25:21 f; compare 1 Chronicles 15:6 that they had charge under Ethan or Jeduthun of the temple music in the service. In David's time Asaiah was their chief (1 Chronicles 15:6). Himself and 220 of the family helped David to bring up the Ark. David divided the Levites into courses among the Gershonites, Kohathites and Merarites (1 Chronicles 23:6; compare 1 Chronicles 23:21; 24:26-30). The functions of certain Merarites are described in 1 Chronicles 26:10-19. They also took part in cleansing the temple in Hezekiah's time (2 Chronicles 29:12) as well as in the days of Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:12), helping to repair the house of the Lord. Among the helpers of Ezra, too, we find some of them numbered (Ezra 8:18, Ezra 8:19). The family seems to have played a very important part in keeping steady and true such faithfulness as remained in Israel.
(3) The father of Judith (Judith 8:1, 16:7;).
Henry Wallace