1 Chronicles 26

Open Word Bible

The divisions of the gatekeepers were these. From the Korahites came Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth and Eliehoenai the seventh. Obed-Edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh and Peullethai the eighth. For God had blessed him.

Sons were also born to his son Shemaiah, and they were leaders in their father’s family, for they were mighty warriors. The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad, whose relatives Elihu and Semachiah were able men. All these were descendants of Obed-Edom. They, their sons and their relatives were able men, strong enough for the work: sixty-two from Obed-Edom’s family. Meshelemiah had sons and relatives who were able men, eighteen in all.

Hosah, one of the descendants of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (though he was not the firstborn, his father made him chief), Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third and Zechariah the fourth. Hosah’s sons and relatives numbered thirteen in all. These divisions of the gatekeepers, under their chief men, had duties of service in the house of the LORD, just as their relatives did. They cast lots for each gate by their ancestral families, the small and the great alike.

The lot for the east fell to Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and his lot came out for the north.

Obed-Edom’s lot was the south, and his sons were given the storehouse. Shuppim and Hosah were given the west, with the Shallecheth Gate on the road that goes up. Each guard post had a matching post. On the east there were six Levites, on the north four a day, on the south four a day, and at the storehouse they served two by two. At the Parbar on the west there were four at the road and two at the Parbar itself. These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the descendants of Korah and of Merari. Of the Levites, Ahijah had charge of the treasuries of the house of God and of the treasuries for the dedicated gifts. From the sons of Ladan, Gershonites descended through Ladan and heads of the ancestral families of Ladan the Gershonite, came Jehieli. The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, had charge of the treasuries in the house of the LORD. From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites: Shebuel son of Gershom, son of Moses, was chief officer in charge of the treasuries. His relatives through Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son and Shelomoth his son. This Shelomoth and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries of the dedicated gifts that King David had dedicated, along with the heads of ancestral families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the commanders of the army. They dedicated part of the plunder from the battles to support the house of the LORD. Everything dedicated by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner and Joab son of Zeruiah, every dedicated gift, was in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.

From the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were given duties outside the temple, over Israel, as officials and judges. From the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 able men, had oversight of Israel on the west side of the Jordan, for all the work of the LORD and the king’s service. Jerijah was chief among the Hebronites, by the genealogies of their ancestral families. In the fortieth year of David’s reign a search was made, and mighty warriors from among them were found at Jazer in Gilead. Jerijah’s relatives, 2,700 able men, were heads of ancestral families. King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh in every matter concerning God and every matter concerning the king.

1 Chronicles

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