1 Chronicles 26
1 Chronicles 26 records the genealogies and duties of the temple gatekeepers, the people responsible for the temple storerooms and possessions, and the officials. It shows how the Levites who served Israel during the days of David were organized systematically, and through them, we can see that efforts were made to maintain order in the temple and in the nation.
1verseFor the divisions of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
2verseMeshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
3verseElam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, and Eliehoenai the seventh.
4verseObed-Edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,
5verseAmmiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, and Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him.
6verseSons were also born to Shemaiah his son, who ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valor.
7verseThe sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose relatives were valiant men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
8verseAll these were of the sons of Obed-Edom with their sons and their brothers, able men in strength for the service: sixty-two of Obed-Edom.
9verseMeshelemiah had sons and brothers, eighteen valiant men.
10verseAlso Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him chief),
11verseHilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth. All the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.
12verseOf these were the divisions of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brothers, to minister in the LORD’s house.
13verseThey cast lots, the small as well as the great, according to their fathers’ houses, for every gate.
14verseThe lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
15verseTo Obed-Edom southward; and to his sons the storehouse.
16verseTo Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goes up, watchman opposite watchman.
17verseEastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the storehouse two and two.
18verseFor Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
19verseThese were the divisions of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.
20verseOf the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of God’s house and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
21verseThe sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers’ households belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
22verseThe sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of the LORD’s house.
23verseOf the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, of the Uzzielites:
24verseShebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler over the treasuries.
25verseHis brothers: of Eliezer, Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son.
26verseThis Shelomoth and his brothers were over all the treasuries of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers’ households, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated.
27verseThey dedicated some of the plunder won in battles to repair the LORD’s house.
28verseAll that Samuel the seer, Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated, whoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomoth and of his brothers.
29verseOf the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were appointed to the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
30verseOf the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, one thousand seven hundred men of valor, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the business of the LORD and for the service of the king.
31verseOf the Hebronites, Jerijah was the chief of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers’ households. They were sought for in the fortieth year of the reign of David, and mighty men of valor were found among them at Jazer of Gilead.
32verseHis relatives, men of valor, were two thousand seven hundred, heads of fathers’ households, whom King David made overseers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.
Organization and Duties of the Gatekeepers
The first part of chapter 26 (verses 1-19) deals with the organization of the temple gatekeepers and their responsibilities. The gatekeepers guarded the various gates of the temple and were entrusted with an important role of protecting the holy places and the people. Each division of gatekeepers set their order by casting lots according to King David’s command, and it can be seen that they were organized by family units. These were not merely guards; they were people with a mission to uphold the order and purity of the temple.
Managing Temple Storerooms and Possessions
Verses 20-28 mention the Levites who were in charge of the temple’s storerooms and the offerings and gifts stored in them. They handled and managed offerings, holy items, and spoils that were dedicated in God’s temple, and honesty and faithfulness were required of them. This emphasizes that even material possessions must be managed rightly according to God’s will.
Officials and Special Assignments
Verses 29-32 provide a list of the Levites who were responsible for legal matters and external administration. They served in administrative and judicial roles for the nation and carried out duties that supported King David from close at hand. Since Levites participated in the judicial and administrative departments, we can see that the entire faith community was under an order in which everyone served God.
Meditation Points
- We can see that God established order, set apart through various roles both great and small, and enabled the temple to be served under that order.
- We can also consider God’s heart for even places that are not noticeable, and the fact that the community becomes healthy when everyone is faithful in their own position.
Putting It into Practice for Me
- What role am I responsible for in the community today? Or should I reflect on whether I take someone else’s labor for granted.
- No matter whether the tasks are great or small, or whether the place is visible or not, we can live with the memory that carrying out the entrusted mission faithfully is God’s will.
