According to the Torah, Merari (Hebrew: מְרָרִי, Mərārî) was one of the sons of Levi,[1] and the patriarchal founder of the Merarites, one of the four main divisions among the Levites in Biblical times. The Hebrew word Merari means sad, bitter or strong (in the sense that a dish with a bitter taste might be said to have a "strong" taste).[2] The Merarites were charged with the transportation and care of the structural components of the tabernacle.[3]