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The Gatekeepers

26 As for the divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.(A) Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,(B) Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him. Also to his son Shemaiah sons were born who exercised authority in their ancestral houses, for they were men of great ability. The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were able men, Elihu and Semachiah. All these, sons of Obed-edom with their sons and brothers, were able men qualified for the service; sixty-two of Obed-edom. Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, able men, eighteen. 10 Hosah, of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him chief),(C) 11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and brothers of Hosah totaled thirteen.

12 These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their leaders, had duties, just as their kindred did, ministering in the house of the Lord,(D) 13 and they cast lots by ancestral houses, small and great alike, for their gates.(E) 14 The lot for the east fell to Shelemiah. They cast lots also for his son Zechariah, a prudent counselor, and his lot came out for the north. 15 Obed-edom’s came out for the south, and to his sons was allotted the storehouse. 16 For Shuppim and Hosah it came out for the west, at the gate of Shallecheth on the ascending road. Guard corresponded to guard. 17 On the east there were six Levites each day,[a] on the north four each day, on the south four each day, as well as two and two at the storehouse, 18 and for the colonnade[b] on the west there were four at the road and two at the colonnade.[c] 19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and the sons of Merari.

The Treasurers, Officers, and Judges

20 And of the Levites, Ahijah had charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated gifts.(F) 21 The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.[d]

22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the Lord. 23 Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: 24 Shebuel son of Gershom, son of Moses, was chief officer in charge of the treasuries.(G) 25 His brothers: from Eliezer were his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomoth.(H) 26 This Shelomoth and his brothers were in charge of all the treasuries of the dedicated gifts that King David, and the heads of families, and the officers of the thousands and the hundreds, and the commanders of the army had dedicated.(I) 27 From spoil won in battles they dedicated gifts for the maintenance of the house of the Lord. 28 Also all that Samuel the seer, and Saul son of Kish, and Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah had dedicated—all dedicated gifts were in the care of Shelomoth[e] and his brothers.(J)

29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were appointed to outside duties for Israel, as officers and judges.(K) 30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, one thousand seven hundred men of ability, had the oversight of Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and for the service of the king.(L) 31 Of the Hebronites, Jerijah was chief of the Hebronites. (In the fortieth year of David’s reign search was made of whatever genealogy or family and men of great ability among them were found at Jazer in Gilead.)(M) 32 King David appointed him and his brothers, two thousand seven hundred men of ability, heads of families, to have the oversight of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites for everything pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.(N)

Footnotes

  1. 26.17 Gk: Heb lacks each day
  2. 26.18 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  3. 26.18 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  4. 26.21 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  5. 26.28 Gk: Heb Shelomith

The Korahite Trustees

26 The guild[a] of trustees[b] included, from the descendants of Korah, Kore’s son Meshelemiah from Asaph’s descendants; Meshelemiah’s sons Zechariah, his firstborn, Jediael his second, Zebadiah his third, Jathniel his fourth, Elam his fifth, Jehohanan his sixth, and Eliehoenai his seventh; Obed-edom’s sons Shemaiah, his firstborn, Jehozabad his second, Joah his third, Sachar his fourth, Nethanel his fifth, Ammiel his sixth, Issachar his seventh, and Peullethai his eighth, since God had blessed him.

Furthermore, his son Shemaiah had sons born to him who wielded authority in their ancestral households, since they were mighty men of valor. These sons of Shemaiah included[c] Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were valiant, able men, Elihu and Semachiah. All of these sons of Obed-edom, along with their sons and brothers, were valiant men, fully qualified for duty—62 descendants[d] of Obed-edom. Meshelemiah had 18 sons and brothers who were valiant men. 10 Hosah, one of Merari’s sons, had these[e] sons: Shimri their chief (though not the firstborn, his father had appointed him chief), 11 Hilkiah his second, Tebaliah his third, and Zechariah his fourth, with a total of 13 sons and brothers of Hosah.

12 With respect to their leaders, these courses of trustees had responsibilities, along with their relatives, regarding ministry within the Temple of the Lord 13 assigned by lottery according to their ancestral households, whether large or small alike, for their gate assignments. 14 The lot for the eastern gate[f] fell to Shelemiah. They also cast lots for his son Zechariah, who was a wise counselor, and his lot indicated the northern gate.[g] 15 Obed-edom’s lot indicated the south gate,[h] and his sons were also allotted responsibility for the storehouse. 16 For Shuppim and Hosah the lot indicated the west at the gate of Shallecheth on the ascending road.

Each guard corresponding to each guard, 17 on the east six descendants of Levi were assigned[i] for each day, on the north four for each day, on the south four for each day (as well as two pairs of guards assigned[j] to the storehouse), 18 and for the colonnade on the west four were assigned at the road and two at the colonnade. 19 These were the ranks of trustees assigned among the descendants of Korah and the sons of Merari.

Oversight of the Treasuries

20 Now with respect to the descendants of Levi, Ahijah was responsible for the treasuries of the Temple of God, including the treasuries containing dedicated gifts. 21 With respect to the descendants of Ladan, the Gershonite descendants pertaining to Ladan, the heads of families pertaining to Ladan the Gershonite, there was Jehieli. 22 The descendants of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, were responsible for the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord.

23 From the descendants of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel were assigned 24 Shebuel, a descendant of Gershom and a descendant of Moses (as chief officer[k] in charge of the treasuries) 25 and his brothers from Eliezer, including his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomoth.

26 Shelomoth and his brothers were responsible for all of the treasuries of dedicated gifts given by King David, by the heads of families, by the officers of groups of thousands and groups of hundreds, and by the leading army officers. 27 They dedicated gifts for the maintenance of the Temple of the Lord from spoils of war. 28 Furthermore, everything that Samuel the seer, Kish’s son Saul, Ner’s son Abner, and Zeruiah’s son Joab had dedicated—all of their dedicated gifts—were under the care of Shelomoth and his brothers.

29 From the descendants of Izhar, Chenaniah and his sons were assigned as officers and judges with responsibilities relating to external duties. 30 From the descendants of Hebron, Hashabiah and his relatives—1,700 outstanding men—were assigned oversight of Israel west of the Jordan regarding all of the Lord’s work and services on behalf of the king.

31 From the descendants of Hebron, Jerijah was assigned chief of the descendants of Hebron. During the fortieth year of David’s administration, a search was made by genealogical record, family by family, to find men of great ability, including those found at Jazer in Gilead. 32 King David appointed Jerijah,[l] his relatives, and 2,700 competent men who were each family heads, to oversee the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh regarding everything pertaining to God as well as matters relating to the king.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 26:1 Lit. divisions or courses
  2. 1 Chronicles 26:1 Lit. gatekeepers or porters; i.e. attendants who administered access to the Temple
  3. 1 Chronicles 26:7 The Heb. lacks included
  4. 1 Chronicles 26:8 The Heb. lacks descendants
  5. 1 Chronicles 26:10 The Heb. lacks these
  6. 1 Chronicles 26:14 The Heb. lacks gate
  7. 1 Chronicles 26:14 The Heb. lacks gate
  8. 1 Chronicles 26:15 The Heb. lacks gate
  9. 1 Chronicles 26:17 The Heb. lacks assigned; and so throughout the chapter
  10. 1 Chronicles 26:17 Lit. two and two
  11. 1 Chronicles 26:24 Lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority
  12. 1 Chronicles 26:32 Lit. him