Merari

Merari is a figure in the Hebrew Bible known as one of the sons of Levi, making him a grandson of Jacob. In biblical genealogies, he is listed alongside his brothers Gershon and Kohath as the sons of Levi, and his line is known as the Merarite clan within the tribe of Levi.

During the Israelites’ wilderness journey, the Merarites were assigned the task of transporting the Tabernacle’s structural elements, including the boards, bars, pillars, sockets, and related fittings. This duty was part of a broader Levitical division of labor for Tabernacle service, with each of the three main Levite families responsible for different aspects of the sanctuary’s care and movement.

Merari’s immediate descendants are named in biblical genealogies; in 1 Chronicles 6:29-30, Merari is recorded as having two sons, Mahli and Mushi, and their line continues as the Merarite clans. The Merarites thus appear in the text primarily as a recognized Levitical subtribe linked to the organization and maintenance of the Tabernacle during the Exodus and subsequent wanderings.

In summary, Merari is a minor but documented biblical figure who serves as the progenitor of the Merarite Levite line, one of the three main Levitical groups tasked with sustaining the Tabernacle.