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The Gatekeepers

26 These are the ·groups [divisions; orders] of the gatekeepers. From the ·family [clan] of Korah, there was Meshelemiah son of Kore, who was from Asaph’s ·family [descendants]. Meshelemiah had sons. Zechariah was his ·first son [firstborn], Jediael was second, Zebadiah was third, Jathniel was fourth, Elam was fifth, Jehohanan was sixth, and Eliehoenai was seventh.

Obed-Edom had sons. Shemaiah was his ·first son [firstborn], Jehozabad was second, Joah was third, Sacar was fourth, Nethanel was fifth, Ammiel was sixth, Issachar was seventh, and Peullethai was eighth. God indeed blessed Obed-Edom.

Obed-Edom’s son Shemaiah also had sons. They ·were leaders in [ruled over] their father’s ·family [L house] because they were ·capable men [highly respected; L mighty men of valor]. Shemaiah’s sons were Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad, whose ·brothers [relatives] Elihu and Semakiah were ·skilled workers [or valiant men; or also respected]. All these were Obed-Edom’s descendants. They and their sons and ·relatives [brothers; grandsons] were capable men and ·strong [well-qualified] workers. Obed-Edom had sixty-two ·descendants [relatives] in all.

Meshelemiah had sons and ·relatives [brothers] who were ·skilled workers [capable/respected men]. In all, there were eighteen.

10 From the Merari ·family [clan], Hosah had sons. Shimri, although not the oldest son, was chosen by his father to be in charge. 11 Hilkiah was his second son, Tabaliah was third, and Zechariah was fourth. In all, Hosah had thirteen sons and ·relatives [brothers].

12 These were the leaders of the ·groups [divisions; orders] of gatekeepers, and they served in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord, as did their ·relatives [brothers]. 13 By throwing lots, each ·family [clan] chose a gate to guard. ·Young [Small] and ·old [great] threw lots.

14 ·Meshelemiah [or Shelemiah; v. 2] was chosen by lot to guard the East Gate. Then lots were ·thrown [cast] for Meshelemiah’s son Zechariah. He was a ·wise counselor [prudent advisor] and was chosen for the North Gate. 15 Obed-Edom was ·chosen for [allotted] the South Gate, and Obed-Edom’s sons were ·chosen to guard [allotted] the storehouse. 16 Shuppim and Hosah were chosen for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the ·upper [ascending] road [C to the Temple].

·Guards stood side by side with guards [or Guard duty was evenly divided; L A guard alongside a guard]. 17 Six Levites stood guard every day at the East Gate; four stood guard every day at the North Gate; four stood guard every day at the South Gate; and two at a time guarded the storehouse. 18 There were two guards at the ·western court [colonnade; Parbar; C the gateway leading up to the Temple] and four guards on the road.

19 These were the ·groups [divisions; orders] of the gatekeepers from the ·families [clans; L sons] of Korah and Merari.

Other Leaders

20 ·Other [Their fellow/brother] Levites were ·responsible for guarding [in charge of] the treasuries of the ·Temple [L house] of God and for the ·places where the holy items were kept [treasuries of dedicated/consecrated gifts].

21 ·Ladan [or Libni] was Gershon’s son and the ancestor of several ·family groups [clans]. ·Jehiel [or Jehieli; 23:8] was a ·leader [chief] of one of the ·family groups [clans]. 22 His sons were Zetham and Joel his brother, and they were ·responsible for [in charge of] the treasuries of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord.

23 Other leaders were chosen from the ·family groups [clans] of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 24 Shubael,[a] the descendant of Gershom, who was Moses’ son, was the ·leader [chief] ·responsible for [in charge of] the treasuries. 25 These were Shubael’s relatives from Eliezer: Eliezer’s son Rehabiah, Rehabiah’s son Jeshaiah, Jeshaiah’s son Joram, Joram’s son Zicri, and Zicri’s son Shelomith. 26 Shelomith and his relatives were ·responsible for [in charge of] ·everything that had been collected for the Temple [the treasuries of dedicated/consecrated gifts collected] by King David, by the heads of ·families [clans], by the commanders of a thousand men and of a hundred men, and by other army ·commanders [officers]. 27 They also ·gave [dedicated] some of the ·things they had [plunder; spoil] taken in wars to be used in repairing the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. 28 Shelomith and his relatives took care of all the ·holy items [dedicated/consecrated gifts]. Some had been given by Samuel the ·seer [prophet], Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah.

29 Kenaniah was from the Izhar ·family [clan]. He and his sons worked outside the ·Temple [L house] as officers and judges in Israel.

30 Hashabiah was from the Hebron ·family [clan]. He and his relatives were ·responsible for [in charge of] the Lord’s work and ·the king’s business [served the king] in Israel west of the Jordan River. There were seventeen hundred ·skilled [capable; respected] men in Hashabiah’s group. 31 The ·history [genealogy] of the Hebron ·family [clan] shows that Jeriah was their ·leader [chief]. In David’s fortieth year ·as king [of reign], the ·records [genealogies] were searched, and some ·capable [skilled; respected] men of the Hebron ·family [clan] were found living at Jazer in Gilead. 32 Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives who were ·capable [skilled; respected] men and leaders of families. King David ·gave them the responsibility of directing [put them in charge of] the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and ·East [L the half-tribe of] Manasseh in God’s work and the king’s ·business [service].

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 26:24 Shubael Some Greek and Latin copies read “Shubael.” Hebrew copies read “Shebuel.”

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