Editing Merari (section)

{{Short description|Biblical figure, son of Levi}}
According to the [[Torah]], '''Merari''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: {{lang|he|מְרָרִי}}, ''Mərārī'') was one of the sons of [[Levi]],<ref>{{bibleverse||Numbers|3:21|}}</ref> and the patriarchal founder of the [[Merarite]]s, one of the four main divisions among the [[Levites]] in [[Hebrew Bible|Biblical]] times. The [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] word ''Merari'' means ''sad'', ''bitter'' or ''strong'' (in the sense that a dish with a bitter taste might be said to have a "strong" taste).<ref>[http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Merari.html Meaning, origin and etymology of the name Merari], Abarim Publications</ref> The [[Merarites]] were charged with the transportation and care of the structural components of the tabernacle.<ref>Numbers 4:29-33</ref>

Richard Elliott Friedman attributes the genealogy to the [[Book of Generations]], a document originating from a similar [[wiktionary:religiopolitical|religiopolitical]] group and date to the [[priestly source]].<ref>[[Richard Elliott Friedman]], ''Who Wrote The Bible?''</ref> According to some biblical scholars, the Torah's genealogy for Levi's descendants is actually an [[aetiology|aetiological]] [[myth]] reflecting the fact that there were four different groups among the levites - the [[Gershonite]]s, [[Kohathites]], Merarites, and [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Aaronid Aaronids];<ref>''[[Peake's Commentary on the Bible]]''</ref><ref>''Jewish Encyclopedia''</ref> according to the Jewish Encyclopedia, ''Levite'' was originally just a job title, deriving from the [[Minaean]] word ''lawi'u'' meaning ''priest'', rather than having been the name of a tribe.<ref>{{JewishEncyclopedia}}</ref>