The Korahite Trustees

26 The guild^[a] of trustees^[b] included, from the descendants of Korah, Kore’s son Meshelemiah from Asaph’s descendants; ² Meshelemiah’s sons Zechariah, his firstborn, Jediael his second, Zebadiah his third, Jathniel his fourth, ³ Elam his fifth, Jehohanan his sixth, and Eliehoenai his seventh; ⁴ Obed-edom’s sons Shemaiah, his firstborn, Jehozabad his second, Joah his third, Sachar his fourth, Nethanel his fifth, ⁵ Ammiel his sixth, Issachar his seventh, and Peullethai his eighth, since God had blessed him.

⁶ Furthermore, his son Shemaiah had sons born to him who wielded authority in their ancestral households, since they were mighty men of valor. ⁷ These sons of Shemaiah included^[c] Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were valiant, able men, Elihu and Semachiah. ⁸ 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. ⁹ 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.