Exodus 6:19
The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites according to their records.
The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.
Merari was one of the three sons of Levi, making him a grandson of Jacob. The Levites were set apart for religious duties, and Merari's descendants had specific responsibilities related to the tabernacle. Mahli and Mushi, as sons of Merari, were part of the Levitical family tasked with the care and transportation of the tabernacle's structural components, such as the frames, bars, pillars, and bases (Numbers 3:36-37). This highlights the importance of each Levitical family in maintaining the worship practices of Israel. The names Mahli and Mushi are not widely mentioned elsewhere, indicating their roles were more functional than narrative-driven. Their duties underscore the theme of service and obedience to God's commands, a recurring motif in the Old Testament.

These were the clans of the Levites according to their records.
The Levites were divided into clans based on their lineage from Levi's three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Each clan had distinct roles in the religious life of Israel, emphasizing the organized and communal nature of worship. The mention of "records" suggests a meticulous keeping of genealogies and duties, which was crucial for maintaining the purity and order of the priestly service. This practice of record-keeping is seen throughout the Old Testament, reflecting the importance of heritage and divine order. The Levites' role as mediators between God and Israel foreshadows the ultimate mediation of Jesus Christ, who fulfills and transcends the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 7:23-28).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Merari
One of the three sons of Levi, Merari is the patriarch of the Merarite clan. His descendants played a significant role in the Levitical duties, particularly in the care and transportation of the tabernacle's structural components.

2. Mahli and Mushi
The sons of Merari, they are the progenitors of the Merarite clans. Their lineage is important in the context of the Levitical priesthood and the organization of the tribes of Israel.

3. Levi
The third son of Jacob and Leah, Levi is the father of the tribe of Levi, which was set apart for religious duties and service to God. The Levites were responsible for the tabernacle and later the temple services.

4. Clans of Levi
The Levites were divided into three main clans: the Gershonites, the Kohathites, and the Merarites. Each clan had specific responsibilities in the service of the tabernacle.

5. Generations
This term refers to the genealogical record and lineage of the Levites, emphasizing the importance of heritage and continuity in the service of God.
Teaching Points
Importance of Heritage and Lineage
The genealogies in the Bible, such as those of the Levites, remind us of the importance of heritage and the continuity of faith across generations. We are encouraged to honor our spiritual heritage and pass it on to future generations.

Diversity of Roles in God's Service
The division of labor among the Levite clans illustrates that God assigns different roles and responsibilities to His people. Each role, whether seen or unseen, is vital to the functioning of the body of Christ.

Faithfulness in Assigned Duties
The Merarites' faithful execution of their duties in the tabernacle service serves as a model for us to be diligent and faithful in whatever tasks God assigns to us, no matter how mundane they may seem.

God's Order and Structure
The organization of the Levites into clans with specific duties reflects God's nature of order and structure. This encourages us to seek order in our spiritual lives and communities.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the role of the Merarites in the tabernacle service reflect the diversity of gifts and roles within the church today?

2. In what ways can we honor our spiritual heritage and ensure its continuity for future generations?

3. How can understanding the specific duties of the Levite clans enhance our appreciation for the order and structure God desires in our lives?

4. What are some practical ways we can be faithful in the "behind-the-scenes" roles God has given us?

5. How do the genealogies in the Bible, such as the one in Exodus 6:19, encourage us to value our own family and spiritual lineage?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Numbers 3:33-37
This passage details the specific duties of the Merarite clan in the service of the tabernacle, highlighting their responsibility for the frames, bars, pillars, and bases.

1 Chronicles 6:1, 16-19
Chronicles the genealogy of the Levites, including the descendants of Merari, underscoring the importance of their role in the history of Israel.

Exodus 25-27
Describes the construction of the tabernacle, providing context for the duties assigned to the Merarites in its maintenance and transport.
Shaken Faith, and an Unshaken PurposeJ. Orr Exodus 6:9-14, 28-30
A Panoramic Glance At HistoryJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 6:14-27
LessonsG. Hughes, B. D.Exodus 6:14-27
The Genealogical TableHenry, MatthewExodus 6:14-27
The Genealogy of the ChurchJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 6:14-27
The Genealogy of Moses and AaronJ. Orr Exodus 6:14-28
People
Aaron, Abiasaph, Abihu, Amminadab, Amram, Assir, Canaanitish, Carmi, Egyptians, Eleazar, Elisheba, Elkanah, Elzaphan, Enoch, Gershon, Hanoch, Hezron, Isaac, Israelites, Ithamar, Izhar, Jachin, Jacob, Jamin, Jemuel, Jochebed, Kohath, Korah, Korahites, Korhites, Levi, Levites, Libni, Mahali, Mahli, Merari, Mishael, Moses, Mushi, Naashon, Nadab, Nahshon, Nepheg, Ohad, Pallu, Phallu, Pharaoh, Phinehas, Putiel, Reuben, Saul, Shaul, Shimei, Shimi, Simeon, Uzziel, Zichri, Zithri, Zohar
Places
Canaan, Egypt
Topics
Births, Clans, Families, Generations, Levi, Levites, Mahali, Mahli, Merari, Merar'i, Mushi, Order, Records, Sons
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 6:14-25

     7266   tribes of Israel

Exodus 6:16-20

     7767   priests, OT institution

Library
To the Saddest of the Sad
I often wonder what those preachers do who feel called to make up their message as they go on; for if they fail, their failure must be attributed in great measure to their want of ability to make up a moving tale. They have to spread their sails to the breeze of the age, and to pick up a gospel that comes floating down to them on the stream of time, altering every week in the year; and they must have an endless task to catch this new idea, or, as they put it, to keep abreast of the age. Unless, indeed,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 34: 1888

From Egypt to Sinai.
Ex. Chs. 1-19 Israel in Egypt. The length of time the Hebrews remained In Egypt is a perplexing question. Exodus 6:16-20 makes Moses the fourth generation from Levi (See Gen. 15:16; Num. 26:57-59). This would make it about 150 years. Gen. 15:13 predicts 400 years. Ex. 12:40 says they were there 430 years and Paul (Gal. 3:17) says 430 years from Abraham to Sinai. These apparently conflicting dates may be explained because of different methods of counting generations, probably based on long lives of
Josiah Blake Tidwell—The Bible Period by Period

Fourth Day. Holiness and Revelation.
And when the Lord saw that Moses turned aside to see, He called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And He said, Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from thy feet, for the place where thou standest is holy ground. And Moses hid his face, for He was afraid to look upon God.'--Ex. iii. 4-6. And why was it holy ground? Because God had come there and occupied it. Where God is, there is holiness; it is the presence of God makes holy. This is the
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of the Messiah
To complete the evidence, presented in the text, as to the essential difference between the teaching of the ancient Synagogue about the Forerunner of the Messiah' and the history and mission of John the Baptist, as described in the New Testaments, we subjoin a full, though condensed, account of the earlier Rabbinic traditions about Elijah. Opinions differ as to the descent and birthplace of Elijah. According to some, he was from the land of Gilead (Bemid. R. 14), and of the tribe of Gad (Tanch. on
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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