1 Chronicles 26:1–32
26 As for the divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. 2 26:2And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3 26:3Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. 4 26:4And Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, 5 26:5Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth, for God blessed him. 6 26:6Also to his son Shemaiah were sons born who were rulers in their fathers’ houses, for they were men of great ability. 7 26:7The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad, whose brothers were able men, Elihu and Semachiah. 8 26:8All these were of the sons of Obed-edom with their sons and brothers, able men qualified for the service; sixty-two of Obed-edom. 9 26:9And Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, able men, eighteen. 10 26:10And Hosah, of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him chief), 11 26:11Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.
12 26:12These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their chief men, had duties, just as their brothers did, ministering in the house of the Lord. 13 26:13And they cast lots by fathers’ houses, small and great alike, for their gates. 14 26:14The lot for the east fell to Shelemiah. They cast lots also for his son Zechariah, a shrewd counselor, and his lot came out for the north. 15 26:15Obed-edom’s came out for the south, and to his sons was allotted the gatehouse. 16 26:16For Shuppim and Hosah it came out for the west, at the gate of Shallecheth on the road that goes up. Watch corresponded to watch. 17 26:17On the east there were six each day, 1 on the north four each day, on the south four each day, as well as two and two at the gatehouse. 18 26:18And for the colonnade 2 on the west there were four at the road and two at the colonnade. 19 26:19These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and the sons of Merari.
20 26:20And of the Levites, Ahijah had charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated gifts. 21 26:21The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers’ houses belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli. 3
22 26:22The sons of Jehieli, Zetham, and Joel his brother, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the Lord. 23 26:23Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites— 24 26:24and Shebuel the son of Gershom, son of Moses, was chief officer in charge of the treasuries. 25 26:25His brothers: from Eliezer were his son Rehabiah, and his son Jeshaiah, and his son Joram, and his son Zichri, and his son Shelomoth. 26 26:26This Shelomoth and his brothers were in charge of all the treasuries of the dedicated gifts that David the king and the heads of the fathers’ houses and the officers of the thousands and the hundreds and the commanders of the army had dedicated. 27 26:27From spoil won in battles they dedicated gifts for the maintenance of the house of the Lord. 28 26:28Also all that Samuel the seer and Saul the son of Kish and Abner the son of Ner and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated—all dedicated gifts were in the care of Shelomoth 4 and his brothers.
29 26:29Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were appointed to external duties for Israel, as officers and judges. 30 26:30Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, 1,700 men of ability, had the oversight of Israel westward of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and for the service of the king. 31 26:31Of the Hebronites, Jerijah was chief of the Hebronites of whatever genealogy or fathers’ houses. (In the fortieth year of David’s reign search was made and men of great ability among them were found at Jazer in Gilead.) 32 26:32King David appointed him and his brothers, 2,700 men of ability, heads of fathers’ houses, to have the oversight of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of the Manassites for everything pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.
Section Overview
Levitical responsibilities for the tabernacle in Numbers 3:6–10 included “keep[ing] guard over” (Hb. shamar) Aaron “and over the whole congregation, . . . [and] all the furnishings,” with a warning that “if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death” (cf. 1 Chron. 23:32). The temple’s physical structure was much larger and more complex, with its four gates leading into the courtyard and to rooms in the gate complexes and along a colonnade used for administration and storage of temple treasures, equipment, clothing, and food (9:26–27). There was thus a need both to provide security against illegal (i.e., not clean) entry and theft or damage and to be responsible for financial and material resources. The organization of such matters is the concern of this chapter, the appointment of “gatekeepers” (26:1–19) who will also have oversight and administration of “treasuries” (vv. 20–28) and related external matters (vv. 29–32). The term “gatekeeper” (shoʻer) describes those responsible for all activities associated with the “gate” (shaʻar) and its associated rooms—hence a combination of maintaining security and keeping the treasury and stores (collecting and disbursing). Multiple responsibility is clear in the listing and detailed description in 9:17–32.
Section Outline
- II.B.2.e. David’s Organization for the Temple and Administration (23:1–27:34) . . .
Response
While the coming of Christ may seem to make obsolete much of the ministry of “gatekeepers,” the Chronicler’s description of their tasks can lead to reflection on aspects of Christian life and worship from the time of the NT to diverse situations today.
(1) The description of the gatekeepers’ work, whether at the temple or in external duties, as “ministry” and the “work of the Lord” warns against a separation of “sacred” and “secular” activities, or distinguishing between “spiritual” and “administrative, maintenance” roles. Paul, for instance, includes “helping” and “administrating” among the spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:28). Whether within the life of a local congregation or in the community, all contribute; the work of cleaners and maintenance people can enhance or distract from the work of pastors and evangelists. Good management of the reception of and use of finances is essential in any setting; financial scandals can blight a church’s witness, but, positively, the early Jerusalem church’s organizing of assistance for widows (by people “full of the Spirit and of wisdom”) is an example in which what followed was that “the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly” (Acts 6:1–7).
(2) The gatekeepers’ supervision of entry into the temple might be compared to various ways the church through the centuries has sought to determine who can and cannot participate in worship, particularly the Lord’s Supper. Psalm 15 is illustrative of an entry liturgy with the question “Who shall dwell on your holy hill?” (v. 1) calling for self-examination, while NT words speak of a person’s examining himself with a focus on relationship with others (Matt. 5:23–24; 1 Cor. 11:28). This does not mean such discipline is purely individual; significantly, one of only two instances of ekklēsia in the Gospels refers to the role of fellow believers and the congregation (Matt. 18:15–17; cf. 1 Cor. 5:1–5; Gal. 6:1–5).5 The vision of the new heavenly city contrasts those who “wash their robes” and “enter the city by the gates” with those who remain outside (Rev. 22:14–15).
(3) While not temples, church buildings require ongoing maintenance, and thus both people responsible for their care and the resources to perform it. This is not to be the task of pastors! Some churches may benefit from the gifts of past benefactors, but wise administration is always needed. At the same time, the account of Christ’s cleansing of the temple is an example of how focus on finances can hinder witness and worship if the reason for the building is forgotten (Mark 11:15–17). All is to be done as “ministry to God.”
1 “Shuppim,” named alongside him in verse 16, is missing in the LXX and so in the MT may be the result of scribal repetition (the word immediately preceding is haʼasuppim).
2 Wright offers this phrase, supported by extensive analysis of vocabulary usage elsewhere in Chronicles (“Guarding the Gates,” 69–81).
3 Wright notes that at least 40 of 49 instances of khayil in Chronicles are not matched in Samuel–Kings, and 36 of these are in explicit military contexts (“Guarding the Gates,” 70–71).
4 The exception is “Ahijah” (v. 20; Hb. ’akhiyyah), who is otherwise unknown. LXX has “the Levites, their brothers” (equivalent to ’akheyhem), which fits this opening better.
5 The other instance of ekklēsia is Matthew 16:18.