1 Chronicles 26:1-19

Expanded Bible

The Gatekeepers

26 These are the ·groups [divisions; orders] of the gatekeepers. From the ·family [clan] of Korah, there was Meshelemiah son of Kore, who was from Asaph’s ·family [descendants]. ² Meshelemiah had sons. Zechariah was his ·first son [firstborn], Jediael was second, Zebadiah was third, Jathniel was fourth, ³ Elam was fifth, Jehohanan was sixth, and Eliehoenai was seventh.

⁴ Obed-Edom had sons. Shemaiah was his ·first son [firstborn], Jehozabad was second, Joah was third, Sacar was fourth, Nethanel was fifth, ⁵ Ammiel was sixth, Issachar was seventh, and Peullethai was eighth. God indeed blessed Obed-Edom.

⁶ Obed-Edom’s son Shemaiah also had sons. They ·were leaders in [ruled over] their father’s ·family [^Lhouse] because they were ·capable men [highly respected; ^Lmighty men of valor]. ⁷ Shemaiah’s sons were Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad, whose ·brothers [relatives] Elihu and Semakiah were ·skilled workers [or valiant men; or also respected]. ⁸ All these were Obed-Edom’s descendants. They and their sons and ·relatives [brothers; grandsons] were capable men and ·strong [well-qualified] workers. Obed-Edom had sixty-two ·descendants [relatives] in all.

⁹ Meshelemiah had sons and ·relatives [brothers] who were ·skilled workers [capable/respected men]. In all, there were eighteen.

¹⁰ From the Merari ·family [clan], Hosah had sons. Shimri, although not the oldest son, was chosen by his father to be in charge. ¹¹ Hilkiah was his second son, Tabaliah was third, and Zechariah was fourth. In all, Hosah had thirteen sons and ·relatives [brothers].

¹² These were the leaders of the ·groups [divisions; orders] of gatekeepers, and they served in the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord, as did their ·relatives [brothers]. ¹³ By throwing lots, each ·family [clan] chose a gate to guard. ·Young [Small] and ·old [great] threw lots.

¹⁴ ·Meshelemiah [or Shelemiah; v. 2] was chosen by lot to guard the East Gate. Then lots were ·thrown [cast] for Meshelemiah’s son Zechariah. He was a ·wise counselor [prudent advisor] and was chosen for the North Gate. ¹⁵ Obed-Edom was ·chosen for [allotted] the South Gate, and Obed-Edom’s sons were ·chosen to guard [allotted] the storehouse. ¹⁶ Shuppim and Hosah were chosen for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the ·upper [ascending] road [^Cto the Temple].

·Guards stood side by side with guards [or Guard duty was evenly divided; ^LA guard alongside a guard]. ¹⁷ Six Levites stood guard every day at the East Gate; four stood guard every day at the North Gate; four stood guard every day at the South Gate; and two at a time guarded the storehouse. ¹⁸ There were two guards at the ·western court [colonnade; Parbar; ^Cthe gateway leading up to the Temple] and four guards on the road.

¹⁹ These were the ·groups [divisions; orders] of the gatekeepers from the ·families [clans; ^Lsons] of Korah and Merari.