Bible Dictionaries
Merarites

Holman Bible Dictionary

(mih ray' ritess) Major division of priests descended from Merari, the third son of Levi. The Merarites and Gershonites were responsible for the set up, breakdown, and transport of the tabernacle (Numbers 10:17; compare Numbers 3:36-37; Numbers 4:29-33; Numbers 7:8 ). The Merarites received an allotment of twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun, including Ramoth-Gilead, a city of refuge (Joshua 21:7 ,Joshua 21:7,21:34-40; 1Chronicles 6:63,1 Chronicles 6:77-81 ). Representatives of the Merarites participated in David's move of the ark to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15:6 ), served as tabernacle musicians (1Chronicles 15:17,1 Chronicles 15:19 ) and gatekeepers (1Chronicles 26:10,1 Chronicles 26:19 ), shared in Hezekiah's (2 Chronicles 29:12 ) and Josiah's (2 Chronicles 34:12 ) reforms, and returned from Exile to assist in the new Temple (Ezra 8:19 ).