Numbers 3:35

35 the prince of them shall be Zuriel, the son of Abihail; they shall set their tents in the north coast. (their leader shall be Zuriel, the son of Abihail; and they shall pitch their tents on the north side of the Tabernacle.)

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 And soothly of Merari shall be the peoples of Mahli, and of Mushi,

34 numbered by their names, all the male kind, from one month and above, six thousand and two hundred; (and the number of all the males, from one month of age and older, was six thousand and two hundred;)

35 the prince of them shall be Zuriel, the son of Abihail; they shall set their tents in the north coast. (their leader shall be Zuriel, the son of Abihail; and they shall pitch their tents on the north side of the Tabernacle.)

36 And under the keeping of them shall be the tables of the tabernacle, and the bars, and the pillars, and the foundaments of those, and all things that pertain to such adorning, (And the sons of Merari shall be in charge of the tables of the Tabernacle, and the bars, and the pillars, and their foundations, or their bases, and all the things in the service thereof,)

37 and the pillars of the great entry by compass (and the pillars all around the courtyard), with their bases, and the stakes with their cords.