Numbers 3:35

35 The leader of the families of Merari was Zuriel, the son of Abihail. They had to camp on the north side of the holy tent.

Numbers 3:35 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 3:35

And the chief of the house of the father of the families of
Merari
I think it should rather be rendered, "and the chief of the house", that is, of the Merarites, "the father to the families of Merari"; the common father to them all, having the chief authority and power over them, and so in ( Numbers 3:24 Numbers 3:30 ) ;

[shall be] Zuriel the son of Abihail;
of whom we read nowhere else, nor is it certain of which family he was, whether of the Mahlites or Mushites:

[these] shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward;
to the left of it, between that and the camp of Dan.

Numbers 3:35 In-Context

33 The families of Mahli and Mushi belonged to the family of Merari.

34 All of the males who were a month old or more were counted. There were 6,200 of them.

35 The leader of the families of Merari was Zuriel, the son of Abihail. They had to camp on the north side of the holy tent.

36 They were appointed to take care of the frames of the tent. They took care of its crossbars, posts and bases. They took care of all of its supplies. In fact, they had to take care of everything that was connected with the use of all of those things.

37 They also took care of the posts of the courtyard that was around the holy tent. And they took care of the bases, tent stakes and ropes.