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The Men Who Guarded the Gates

26 Here are the groups of men who guarded the gates.

From the family of Korah came

Meshelemiah, the son of Kore. Kore was one of the sons of Asaph. Meshelemiah had sons.

Zechariah was his first son.

Jediael was his second son.

Zebadiah was the third.

Jathniel was the fourth.

Elam was the fifth.

Jehohanan was the sixth.

And Eliehoenai was the seventh.

Obed-Edom also had sons.

Shemaiah was his first son.

Jehozabad was his second son.

Joah was the third.

Sakar was the fourth.

Nethanel was the fifth.

Ammiel was the sixth.

Issachar was the seventh.

And Peullethai was the eighth.

God had blessed Obed-Edom.

Obed-Edom’s son Shemaiah also had sons. They were leaders in their family. That’s because they were men of great ability. The sons of Shemaiah were

Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad.

Elzabad’s relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also capable men.

All of them belonged to the family line of Obed-Edom. They and their sons and relatives were capable men. They were strong enough to do their work. The total number of men in the family line of Obed-Edom was 62.

Meshelemiah’s sons and relatives were capable men. Their total number was 18.

10 Hosah belonged to the family line of Merari. Hosah’s first son was

Shimri. But Shimri wasn’t the oldest son. His father had made him the first.

11 Hilkiah was Hosah’s second son.

Tabaliah was the third.

Zechariah was the fourth.

The total number of Hosah’s sons and relatives was 13.

12 Those groups of men guarded the gates. They worked under their leaders. They served at the Lord’s temple, just as their relatives had served. 13 Lots were cast for each gate, family by family. Young and old alike were chosen.

14 The lot chosen for the East Gate was for Shelemiah.

Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, who gave wise advice. The lot chosen for the North Gate was for Zechariah.

15 The lot chosen for the South Gate was for Obed-Edom. The lot chosen for the storeroom was for his sons.

16 Lots were chosen for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road. Those lots were chosen for Shuppim and Hosah.

One guard stood next to another.

17 There were six Levites a day on the east.

There were four a day on the north.

There were four a day on the south.

And there were two at a time at the storeroom.

18 Two Levite guards were at the courtyard to the west. And four were at the road.

19 Those were the groups of the men who guarded the gates. They belonged to the family lines of Korah and Merari.

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