Mahli
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Mahli is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically within the genealogies of the Levites. He is recognized as a descendant of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and is associated with the Levitical priestly line. Mahli's name is found in several passages, highlighting his role and lineage within the tribe of Levi.

Genealogy and Family Lineage

Mahli is identified as the son of Merari, who was one of the three sons of Levi. The sons of Levi—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari—were the progenitors of the Levitical families, each with specific duties related to the tabernacle and later the temple. Mahli, as a descendant of Merari, belonged to the Merarite clan, which was responsible for the care and transportation of the tabernacle's structural components, such as the frames, bars, pillars, and bases.

In 1 Chronicles 6:19, the genealogy of Levi is outlined: "The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their families." This passage establishes Mahli as a significant figure within the Merarite division of the Levites.

Role and Duties

The Merarites, including Mahli's descendants, were assigned specific responsibilities in the service of the tabernacle. Numbers 3:36-37 details these duties: "The duties of the sons of Merari were the tabernacle’s frames, crossbars, posts, bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use, as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes."

Mahli's lineage continued to play a vital role in the religious life of Israel, particularly in the maintenance and transportation of the tabernacle during the Israelites' wilderness wanderings. This service was crucial for the proper worship and sacrificial system established by God through Moses.

Descendants and Legacy

Mahli's descendants are mentioned in various genealogical records, emphasizing the continuity of his line within the Levitical priesthood. In 1 Chronicles 23:21-23, the sons of Mahli are listed: "The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. Eleazar died without having sons, but he had daughters who married their cousins, the sons of Kish."

This passage highlights the importance of maintaining the Levitical lineage, even through the marriage of daughters to their relatives, ensuring the continuation of Mahli's family line within the priestly duties.

Significance in Israel's Worship

Mahli's role as a progenitor of the Merarite Levites underscores the structured and organized nature of Israel's worship system. The division of labor among the Levites, including Mahli's descendants, reflects the meticulous care and reverence required in the service of God. Each family had specific tasks, contributing to the overall function and sanctity of the tabernacle and later the temple.

In summary, Mahli is a notable figure within the Levitical genealogies, representing the Merarite branch of the Levites. His descendants played a crucial role in the religious life of ancient Israel, ensuring the proper care and transportation of the tabernacle's structural elements. Through Mahli's lineage, the faithfulness and dedication required in the service of God are exemplified, highlighting the importance of each family's contribution to the worship and spiritual life of the nation.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Mahli

(sick).

  1. Son of Merari, the son of Levi and ancestor of the family of the Mahlites. (Numbers 3:20; 1 Chronicles 6:19,29; 24:26)
  2. Bon of Mushi and grandson of Merari. (1 Chronicles 6:47; 23:23; 24:30)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MAHLI

ma'-li (machli, "a sick or weak one"):

(1) A son of Merari (Exodus 6:19, the King James Version Mahali; Numbers 3:20), grandson of Levi and founder of the Levitical family of MAHLITES (which see).

(2) A son of Mushi, Mahli's brother, bears the same name (1 Chronicles 6:47; 1 Chronicles 23:23; 1 Chronicles 24:30). Compare Ezra 8:18 and 1 Esdras 8:47.

Strong's Hebrew
4250. Machli -- descendant of Mahli
... Machli. 4251 . descendant of Mahli. Transliteration: Machli Phonetic Spelling:
(makh-lee') Short Definition: Mahlites. ... of Mahli NASB Word Usage Mahlites (2). ...
/hebrew/4250.htm - 6k

4249. Machli -- a Levite, also a son of Mushi
... 4248, 4249. Machli. 4250 . a Levite, also a son of Mushi. Transliteration:
Machli Phonetic Spelling: (makh-lee') Short Definition: Mahli. ... Mahli. ...
/hebrew/4249.htm - 6k

Thesaurus
Mahli (11 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia MAHLI. ... (2) A son of Mushi, Mahli's brother, bears
the same name (1 Chronicles 6:47; 1 Chronicles 23:23; 1 Chronicles 24:30). ...
/m/mahli.htm - 10k

Mushi (8 Occurrences)
... Mushi (8 Occurrences). Exodus 6:19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. ... Numbers
3:20 The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. ...
/m/mushi.htm - 9k

Merar'i (32 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Exodus 6:19 And the sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. ... (See RSV). Numbers
3:20 And the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. ...
/m/merar'i.htm - 14k

Merari (38 Occurrences)
... We early find them divided into two families, the Mahli and Mushi (Exodus 6:19 Numbers
3:17, 20, 33). ... Exodus 6:19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. ...
/m/merari.htm - 23k

Kish (18 Occurrences)
... (3) A Levite, the son of Mahli the Merarite (1 Chronicles 23:21; compare
24:29). ... 1 Chronicles 23:21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. ...
/k/kish.htm - 15k

Jerimoth (10 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 23:23 Sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth, three. (YLT NIV).
1 Chronicles 24:30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. ...
/j/jerimoth.htm - 11k

Ish-sechel (1 Occurrence)
... at the place Casiphia." "And according to the good hand of our God upon us they
brought us a man of discretion (m "Ish-sechel"), of the sons of Mahli, the son ...
/i/ish-sechel.htm - 7k

Eder (6 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 23:23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three. ... 1
Chronicles 24:30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. ...
/e/eder.htm - 10k

Clans (120 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Exodus 6:19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. ... (See NIV). Numbers
3:20 The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. ...
/c/clans.htm - 34k

Levi (79 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 6:19 The sons of Merari: Mahli
and Mushi. ... 1 Chronicles 6:19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. ...
/l/levi.htm - 35k

Resources
Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Mahli (11 Occurrences)

Exodus 6:19
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 3:20
The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 6:19
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 6:29
The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 6:47
the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 23:21
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 23:23
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 24:26
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah: Beno.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 24:28
Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 24:30
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after their fathers' houses.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezra 8:18
According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Mahli

Mahli: Son of Merari

Mahli: Son of Mushi

Related Terms

Mushi (8 Occurrences)

Merar'i (32 Occurrences)

Merari (38 Occurrences)

Kish (18 Occurrences)

Jerimoth (10 Occurrences)

Ish-sechel (1 Occurrence)

Eder (6 Occurrences)

Clans (120 Occurrences)

Levi (79 Occurrences)

Elea'zar (72 Occurrences)

Mahlah (5 Occurrences)

Eleazar (74 Occurrences)

Families (272 Occurrences)

Levite (43 Occurrences)

18 (1 Occurrence)

Uzza (10 Occurrences)

Jaaziah (2 Occurrences)

Ja-azi'ah (2 Occurrences)

Jer'emoth (8 Occurrences)

Jeremoth (9 Occurrences)

Jer'imoth (6 Occurrences)

Libni (5 Occurrences)

Insight (39 Occurrences)

Ishsechel

Records (50 Occurrences)

Discretion (20 Occurrences)

Mahlon (4 Occurrences)

Mahlite (2 Occurrences)

Mooli

Mahlites (2 Occurrences)

Births (34 Occurrences)

Beno (2 Occurrences)

Capable (10 Occurrences)

Sherebiah (8 Occurrences)

Sherebiah's (1 Occurrence)

Sherebi'ah (8 Occurrences)

Eighteen (22 Occurrences)

Uzzah (10 Occurrences)

Shim'ei (40 Occurrences)

Listed (48 Occurrences)

Generations (148 Occurrences)

Households (117 Occurrences)

Kinsmen (74 Occurrences)

Levites (267 Occurrences)

Namely (81 Occurrences)

Shimei (43 Occurrences)

Understanding (248 Occurrences)

Mahali (1 Occurrence)

Houses (308 Occurrences)

Names (133 Occurrences)

Mahlah: Special Legislation in Regard to the Inheritance of
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