What are the…
Merarites

These are Levites who descended from Merari (Num. 26:57).

They with the Gershonites and the Kohathites had charge of the tabernacle, which they had to carry from place to place (Num. 3:20, 33-37; 4:29-33).

In the distribution of the oxen and wagons offered by the princes (Num. 7), Moses gave twice as many to the Merarites (four wagons and eight oxen) as he gave to the Gershonites, because the latter had to carry only the lighter furniture of the Holy Tabernacle, such as the curtains, hangings, etc., while the former had to carry the heavier portion, as the boards, bars, sockets, pillars, etc., and consequently needed a greater supply of oxen and wagons.

This is a coincidence illustrative of the truth of the accout. Their place in marching and in the camp was on the north of the tabernacle.

The Merarites afterwards took part with the other Levitical families in the various functions of their office (1 Chr. 23:6, 21-23; 2 Chr. 29:12-13).

12 cities with their suburbs were assigned to them (Josh. 21:7, 34-40).

Merarite Levitical cities

1. Ramoth-Gilead in Gad
2. Jazer in Gad
3. Mahanaim in Gad
4. Heshbon in Gad
5. Bezer in Reuben
6. Jahaz in Reuben
7. Kedemoth in Reuben
8. Mephaath in Reuben
9. Dimnah in Zebulun
10. Jokneam in Zebulun
11. Kartah in Zebulun
12. Nahalal (Nahallal) in Zebulun