The Gatekeepers
26 The divisions of the gatekeepers:
From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.
2 Meshelemiah had sons:
Zechariah the firstborn,
Jediael the second,
Zebadiah the third,
Jathniel the fourth,
3 Elam the fifth,
Jehohanan the sixth
and Eliehoenai the seventh.
4 Obed-Edom also had sons:
Shemaiah the firstborn,
Jehozabad the second,
Joah the third,
Sakar the fourth,
Nethanel the fifth,
5 Ammiel the sixth,
Issachar the seventh
and Peullethai the eighth.
(For God had blessed Obed-Edom.)
6 Obed-Edom’s son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders in their father’s family because they were very capable men. 7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also able men. 8 All 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.
Gatekeepers were all Levites and did many jobs. They checked equipment, maintained the food supplies for the priests and sacrifices, taking care of the furniture, mixed incense that was burned daily, and accounted for the gifts brought daily. There is quite a list of names, but even in the list of names there is a message to learn from God. Did you catch, ‘For God had blessed Obed-Edom.’. God richly blessed him with many children and descendants. Obed-Edom was blessed. He was capable, and his descendants were capable and strong to do the work. God blesses capable work for the Glory of God.
