1 Chronicles 9:17-29

New International Version

¹⁷The gatekeepers:^(A)

Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their fellow Levites, Shallum their chief ¹⁸being stationed at the King’s Gate^(B) on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites. ¹⁹Shallum^(C) son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family (the Korahites) were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the tent just as their ancestors had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the Lord. ²⁰In earlier times Phinehas^(D) son of Eleazar was the official in charge of the gatekeepers, and the Lord was with him. ²¹Zechariah^(E) son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

²²Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers^(F) at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer.^(G) ²³They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the Lord—the house called the tent of meeting. ²⁴The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south. ²⁵Their fellow Levites in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day^(H) periods. ²⁶But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries^(I) in the house of God. ²⁷They would spend the night stationed around the house of God,^(J) because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key^(K) for opening it each morning.

²⁸Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out. ²⁹Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary,^(L) as well as the special flour and wine, and the olive oil, incense and spices.

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1 Chronicles 26:1-19

New International Version

The Gatekeepers

26 The divisions of the gatekeepers:^(A)

From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.

²Meshelemiah had sons:

Zechariah^(B) the firstborn,

Jediael the second,

Zebadiah the third,

Jathniel the fourth,

³Elam the fifth,

Jehohanan the sixth

and Eliehoenai the seventh.

⁴Obed-Edom also had sons:

Shemaiah the firstborn,

Jehozabad the second,

Joah the third,

Sakar the fourth,

Nethanel the fifth,

⁵Ammiel the sixth,

Issachar the seventh

and Peullethai the eighth.

(For God had blessed Obed-Edom.^(C))

⁶Obed-Edom’s son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders in their father’s family because they were very capable men. ⁷The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also able men. ⁸All these were descendants of Obed-Edom; they and their sons and their relatives were capable men with the strength to do the work—descendants of Obed-Edom, 62 in all.

⁹Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, who were able men—18 in all.

¹⁰Hosah the Merarite had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him the first),^(D) ¹¹Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and relatives of Hosah were 13 in all.

¹²These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their leaders, had duties for ministering^(E) in the temple of the Lord, just as their relatives had. ¹³Lots^(F) were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

¹⁴The lot for the East Gate^(G) fell to Shelemiah.^[a] Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah,^(H) a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him. ¹⁵The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom,^(I) and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons. ¹⁶The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah.

Guard was alongside of guard: ¹⁷There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse. ¹⁸As for the court^[b] to the west, there were four at the road and two at the court^[c] itself.

¹⁹These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.^(J)

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