Numbers 3:35

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The chief of the M'rari clan was Tzuri'el the son of Avichayil. They were to camp next to the tabernacle, toward the north.

Berean Standard Bible:

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

American Standard Version:

And the prince of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: they shall encamp on the side of the tabernacle northward.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the chief^{H5387} of the house^{H1004} of the father^{H1} of the families^{H4940} of Merari^{H4847} was Zuriel^{H6700} the son^{H1121} of Abihail^{H32}: these shall pitch^{H2583} on the side^{H3409} of the tabernacle^{H4908} northward^{H6828}.

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Commentary for Numbers 3:35

1. Themes:
- Organization and Responsibility: The verse emphasizes the structured leadership within the Israelite community, particularly among the Levites, who were responsible for the care of the Tabernacle.
- Divine Order: The specific mention of Zuriel as the chief of the Merari family highlights the importance of divinely appointed roles within the community.
- Priestly Duties: The verse reflects the detailed division of labor among the Levites, with different clans assigned specific tasks related to the Tabernacle.

2. Historical Context:
- The book of Numbers is set during the time of the Israelites' wanderings in the wilderness, after their exodus from Egypt and before their entry into the Promised Land.
- The census and organization of the tribes, including the Levites, were part of the preparations for the Israelites to journey and live as a nation under God's guidance.
- The Merari were one of the three main families of the Levite tribe, responsible for carrying the structural elements of the Tabernacle during the Israelites' travels.
- Zuriel, the son of Abihail, is identified as the leader of the Merari family, indicating his role in overseeing the tasks assigned to his clan.
- The instruction for the Merari to camp on the north side of the Tabernacle reflects the precise arrangement of the camp, with each tribe and family having a designated place around the central Tabernacle, which was the locus of God's presence among the Israelites.

In summary, Numbers 3:35 highlights the structured leadership and divine order among the Israelite clans, particularly the Levites, during a formative period of their history as they prepared to transition from a loose collection of tribes to a nation governed by God's laws and instructions.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5387
   There are 120 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָשִׂיא
   Transliteration: nâsîyʼ
   Pronunciation: naw-see'
   Description: or נָשִׂא; from נָשָׂא; properly, an exalted one, i.e. a king or sheik; also a rising mist; captain, chief, cloud, governor, prince, ruler, vapour.
   
2. Strong's Number: H1004
   There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּיִת
   Transliteration: bayith
   Pronunciation: bah'-yith
   Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out).
   
3. Strong's Number: H1
   There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָב
   Transliteration: ʼâb
   Pronunciation: awb
   Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4940
   There are 224 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִשְׁפָּחָה
   Transliteration: mishpâchâh
   Pronunciation: mish-paw-khaw'
   Description: from שָׁפָה (compare שִׁפְחָה); a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people; family, kind(-red).
   
5. Strong's Number: H4847
   There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מְרָרִי
   Transliteration: Mᵉrârîy
   Pronunciation: mer-aw-ree'
   Description: from מָרַר; bitter; Merari, an Israelite; Merari. See also מְרָרִי.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6700
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צוּרִיאֵל
   Transliteration: Tsûwrîyʼêl
   Pronunciation: tsoo-ree-ale'
   Description: from צוּר and אֵל; rock of God; Tsuriel, an Israelite; Zuriel.
   
7. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
8. Strong's Number: H32
   There are 3133 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲבִיהַיִל
   Transliteration: ʼĂbîyhayil
   Pronunciation: ab-ee-hah'-yil
   Description: or (more correctly) אֲבִיחַיִל ; from אָב and חַיִל; father (i.e. possessor) of might; Abihail or Abichail, the name of three Israelites and two Israelitesses; Abihail.
   
9. Strong's Number: H2583
   There are 135 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָנָה
   Transliteration: chânâh
   Pronunciation: khaw-naw'
   Description: a primitive root (compare חָנַן); properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch atent; gen. to encamp (for abode or siege); abide (in tents), camp, dwell, encamp, grow to an end, lie, pitch (tent), rest in tent.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3409
    There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָרֵךְ
    Transliteration: yârêk
    Pronunciation: yaw-rake'
    Description: from an unused root meaning to be soft; the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphemistically the generative parts; figuratively, a shank, flank, side; [idiom] body, loins, shaft, side, thigh.
    
11. Strong's Number: H4908
    There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִשְׁכָּן
    Transliteration: mishkân
    Pronunciation: mish-kawn'
    Description: from שָׁכַן; a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the grave; also the Temple); specifically, the Tabernacle (properly, its wooden walls); dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle, tent.
    
12. Strong's Number: H6828
    There are 141 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: צָפוֹן
    Transliteration: tsâphôwn
    Pronunciation: tsaw-fone'
    Description: or צָפֹן; from צָפַן; properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown); north(-ern, side, -ward, wind).