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The Gatekeepers

26 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers:

from the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, one 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,

Sakar the fourth,

Nethanel the fifth,

Ammiel the sixth,

Issachar the seventh,

and Peullethai the eighth

(for God blessed him).

Also to his son Shemaiah sons were born who ruled their fathers’ houses, for they were men of great ability. The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were able men: namely Elihu and Semakiah. All these were of the sons of Obed-Edom with their sons and their brothers, able men qualified for service, sixty-two of Obed-Edom.

Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, able men, eighteen in all.

10 Also Hosah, of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father made him the first), 11 Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah, thirteen.

12 These divisions of the gatekeepers, for their chief men, had assignments to minister in the house of the Lord just as their brothers. 13 They cast lots, small and great alike, according to their fathers’ houses, gate by gate.

14 The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, and his lot came out for the North Gate; 15 to Obed-Edom the South Gate, and to his sons was allotted the storehouse. 16 For Shuppim and Hosah the lot came out for the West Gate, at the Shalleketh Gate on the ascending road, guard corresponding to guard.

17 On the east there were six Levites each day, on the north four each day, on the south four each day, as well as two and two at the storehouse. 18 For the colonnade on the west, there were four at the highway, and two at the colonnade.

19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers of the sons of Korah and of the sons of Merari.

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The Divisions of the Gatekeepers

26 As for the working groups of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, from the sons of Asaph. And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, Elam the fifth, Jehohana the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. And 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, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him. And to Shemaiah his son were sons born who were rulers in the house of their father, for they were mighty warriors of ability. The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were sons of ability, Elihu and Semakiah. All these from the sons of Obed-Edom, they and their sons, and their brothers were men of ability with strength for service; sixty-two of Obed-Edom. And Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, sons of ability, eighteen. 10 And Hosah, from the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (though he was not firstborn, his father appointed him as chief), 11 Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.

12 These working groups of gatekeepers, corresponding to the chief men, had responsibilities like their brothers to serve in the house of Yahweh. 13 And they cast lots, small and great alike, by their fathers’ houses, for their gates.[a] 14 And the lot fell to the east to Shelemiah. As for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor,[b] they cast lots. And his lot came out for the north. 15 To Obed-Edom went out the south, and to his sons, the storehouses. 16 For Shuppim and Hosah it went out for the west, at the gate of Shalleketh, on the road that goes up, guard for guard. 17 To the east, six Levites; to the north, four daily; to the south, four daily; and at the storerooms, two by two. 18 For the court to the west, four at the road, two at the court. 19 These were the working groups of the gatekeepers among the sons of the Korahites and among the sons of Merari.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 26:13 Literally “for gate and gate”
  2. 1 Chronicles 26:14 Literally “giving counsel with understanding”