MERARI. — Third son of Levi (Heb. Mĕrārî: Gen. 46:11; Ex. 6:16, 19).
His descendants (1 Chron. 5:27; 6:1–4, 29–34 [Vulg. 6:1, 16–19, 44–48]) formed the least numerous group of Levites (ca. 6,200); in the desert they were charged with transporting the wooden parts of the Tabernacle (Num. 3:33–37; 4:29–33; 26:57), for which they had 4 carts and 8 oxen (Num. 7:8).
In Palestine they received 12 cities, 4 in each of the tribes of Zebulun, Reuben, and Gad (Josh. 21:34–40). Under King Hezekiah two Merarites assisted in the purification of the Temple (2 Chron. 29:12), and two others under Josiah were placed in charge of restoring the Sanctuary (ibid. 34:12). Thirty-eight Levites of the Merarite line responded to Ezra’s call to return from exile (Ezra 8:19).