Numbers 3:36

And [under] the custody and charge of the sons of Merari [shall be] the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto,

And under the custody {H6486} and charge {H4931} of the sons {H1121} of Merari {H4847} shall be the boards {H7175} of the tabernacle {H4908}, and the bars {H1280} thereof, and the pillars {H5982} thereof, and the sockets {H134} thereof, and all the vessels {H3627} thereof, and all that serveth {H5656} thereto,

The M'rari clans were assigned responsibility for the frames of the tabernacle, along with its crossbars, posts, sockets and fittings, together with their maintenance;

The duties assigned to the sons of Merari were the tabernacle’s frames, crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment—all the service for these items,

And the appointed charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the instruments thereof, and all the service thereof,

Commentary

Numbers 3:36 details the specific responsibilities assigned to the sons of Merari, one of the three main clans within the tribe of Levi. This verse emphasizes their crucial role in the transport and care of the Tabernacle's heaviest structural components during Israel's wilderness journeys.

Context

In Numbers chapter 3, God provides meticulous instructions regarding the organization and duties of the Levites, who were set apart for service to the Lord and the priests. Unlike the other Israelite tribes, the Levites were not numbered for military service but for the sacred task of maintaining and transporting the Tabernacle, God's dwelling place among His people. The three Levitical clans—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari—each received distinct assignments. While the Gershonites were responsible for the coverings and hangings and the Kohathites for the holy vessels and the Ark of the Covenant, the Merarites were charged with the bulkier, foundational elements.

Key Themes

  • Order and Precision: The detailed assignment of duties underscores God's demand for order and carefulness in worship and service. Every part of the Tabernacle, no matter how mundane, was important and required dedicated care.
  • Specific Responsibilities: This verse highlights that each group within God's people has a unique and vital role. The sons of Merari had the physically demanding task, demonstrating that all types of labor, even the heaviest, are honorable when done for the Lord.
  • Bearing Burdens: The Merarites literally bore the heavy load of the Tabernacle's framework, symbolizing the various burdens and responsibilities involved in serving God and His community.
  • Holiness of God's Dwelling: The meticulous care required for each component of the Tabernacle reinforced its sacredness as the place where God met with His people.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "custody and charge" (Hebrew: mishmeret u'maśśā') implies both a vigilant guardianship and the burden of carrying or transporting. The items listed—"boards" (qerashim), "bars" (berîḥîm), "pillars" ('ammûdîm), and "sockets" ('adānîm)—were the solid, heavy structural elements of the Tabernacle. The "sockets," in particular, were massive silver or bronze bases that supported the wooden boards and pillars, ensuring the stability of the entire tent of meeting. These components are described in detail in Exodus 26, illustrating their substantial nature.

Practical Application

Numbers 3:36 offers timeless lessons for believers today. Just as the sons of Merari had a specific and essential duty, every member of God's church is called to service. No task, whether visible or behind-the-scenes, is insignificant in the eyes of God. This verse encourages us to embrace our unique gifts and responsibilities with diligence, recognizing that even the "heavy lifting" contributes to the overall functioning and health of the spiritual house of God. It reminds us of the importance of stewardship over what God has entrusted to us, whether it be physical resources, spiritual gifts, or the care for others within the body of Christ.

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Cross-References

  • Exodus 26:15 (3 votes)

    ¶ And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle [of] shittim wood standing up.

  • Exodus 26:29 (3 votes)

    And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings [of] gold [for] places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.

  • Exodus 26:37 (3 votes)

    And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars [of] shittim [wood], and overlay them with gold, [and] their hooks [shall be of] gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

  • Exodus 26:32 (3 votes)

    And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim [wood] overlaid with gold: their hooks [shall be of] gold, upon the four sockets of silver.

  • Exodus 36:36 (2 votes)

    And he made thereunto four pillars [of] shittim [wood], and overlaid them with gold: their hooks [were of] gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.

  • Exodus 35:11 (2 votes)

    The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets,

  • Exodus 27:9 (2 votes)

    ¶ And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward [there shall be] hangings for the court [of] fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side: