Numbers 3:35

35 They were led by Zuriel son of Abihail and camped on the north side of The Dwelling.

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 Merari was ancestor to the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites, known as the Merarite clans.
34 The males who were one month and older numbered 6,200.
35 They were led by Zuriel son of Abihail and camped on the north side of The Dwelling.
36 The Merarites were in charge of the frames of The Dwelling, its crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment - everything having to do with these things,
37 as well as the posts of the surrounding Courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and cords.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.