Divisions of Gatekeepers

26 The divisions of the gatekeepers:

From the Korahites: Meshelemiah, son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.

² Meshelemiah’s sons:

The firstborn Zechariah, the second Jediael, the third Zebadiah, the fourth Jathniel, ³ the fifth Elam, the sixth Jehohanan, and the seventh Elihoenai.

⁴ Obed-Edom’s sons:

The firstborn Shemaiah, the second Jehozabad, the third Joah, the fourth Sakar, the fifth Nethanel, ⁵ the sixth Ammiel, the seventh Issachar, and the eighth Peullethai. (Indeed, God blessed Obed-Edom.^[a])

⁶ His son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders of their families, for they were highly respected. ⁷ The sons of Shemaiah:

Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. His relatives^[b] Elihu and Semakiah were also respected.

⁸ All these were the descendants of Obed-Edom. They and their sons and relatives were respected men, capable of doing their responsibilities. There were sixty-two of them related to Obed-Edom.

⁹ Meshelemiah had sons and relatives who were respected—eighteen in all.

¹⁰ Hosah, one of the descendants of Merari, had sons:

The firstborn Shimri (he was not actually the firstborn, but his father gave him that status), ¹¹ the second Hilkiah, the third Tebaliah, and the fourth Zechariah. All Hosah’s sons and relatives numbered thirteen.

¹² These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their leaders, had assigned responsibilities, like their relatives, as they served in the Lord’s temple.

¹³ They cast lots, both young and old, according to their families, to determine which gate they would be responsible for.^{[c] 14} The lot for the east gate went to Shelemiah.^[d] They then cast lots for his son Zechariah, a wise adviser, and the lot for the north gate went to him. ¹⁵ Obed-Edom was assigned the south gate, and his sons were assigned the storehouses. ¹⁶ Shuppim and Hosah were assigned the west gate, along with the Shalleketh gate on the upper road. One guard was adjacent to another.^{[e] 17} Each day there were six Levites posted on the east, four on the north, and four on the south. At the storehouses they were posted in pairs. ¹⁸ At the court on the west there were four posted on the road and two at the court. ¹⁹ These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.

Supervisors of the Storehouses

²⁰ Their fellow Levites were^[f] in charge of the storehouses^[g] in God’s temple and the storehouses containing consecrated items. ²¹ The descendants of Ladan,^[h] who were descended from Gershon through Ladan and were leaders of the families of Ladan the Gershonite, included Jehieli^{[i] 22} and the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the storehouses in the Lord’s temple.

²³ As for the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites:

²⁴ Shebuel^[j] son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was the supervisor of the storehouses. ²⁵ His relatives through Eliezer included: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zikri his son, and Shelomith^[k] his son. ²⁶ Shelomith^[l] and his relatives were in charge of all the storehouses containing the consecrated items dedicated by King David, the family leaders who led units of a thousand and a hundred, and the army officers. ²⁷ They had dedicated some of the plunder taken in battles to be used for repairs on the Lord’s temple. ²⁸ They were also in charge of everything dedicated by Samuel the prophet,^[m] Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah; Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of everything that had been dedicated.

²⁹ As for the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were given responsibilities outside the temple^[n] as officers and judges over Israel.

³⁰ As for the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 respected men, were assigned responsibilities in Israel west of the Jordan; they did the Lord’s work and the king’s service.

³¹ As for the Hebronites: Jeriah was the leader of the Hebronites according to the genealogical records. In the fortieth year of David’s reign, they examined the records and discovered^[o] there were highly respected men in Jazer in Gilead. ³² Jeriah had 2,700 relatives who were respected family leaders.^[p] King David placed them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh; they took care of all matters pertaining to God and the king.^[q]