1 Chronicles 26

Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.

1Here are the groups of gatekeepers, the men who guarded the doors of God's house. From the family of Korah came Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.

2And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,

2Meshelemiah had sons. Zechariah was the oldest. Then came Jediael, then Zebadiah, then Jathniel.

3Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.

3Then came Elam, then Jehohanan, then Elioenai. There were seven sons in all.

4Moreover the sons of Obededom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth,

4Obed-edom also had sons. Shemaiah was the oldest. Then came Jehozabad, Joah, Sacar, and Nethanel.

5Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him.

5Then came Ammiel, Issachar, and Peullethai. That made eight sons. God had been good to Obed-edom.

6Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valour.

6Shemaiah, the son of Obed-edom, had sons too. They led their families, because they were strong and able men.

7The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.

7Shemaiah's sons were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. His brothers Elihu and Semachiah were able men as well.

8All these of the sons of Obededom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obededom.

8All of these came from Obed-edom. They, their sons, and their brothers were strong enough for the work. There were sixty-two of them.

9And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen.

9Meshelemiah also had sons and brothers who were able men. There were eighteen of them.

10Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)

10Hosah, from the family of Merari, had sons too. Shimri was put first. He was not the oldest son, but his father chose him to lead.

11Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.

11Then came Hilkiah, then Tebaliah, then Zechariah. The sons and brothers of Hosah numbered thirteen.

12Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD.

12These groups of gatekeepers had leaders over them. They took turns serving in the LORD's house, just as their relatives did.

13And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.

13They cast lots for each gate, family by family. Young men and old men were treated the same way.

NoteCasting lots was like drawing straws. People believed God guided which lot came out, so no one could argue about who got the best gate.

14And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.

14The east gate went to Shelemiah. Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a wise adviser. The north gate went to him.

15To Obededom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.

15The south gate went to Obed-edom. His sons were given the storehouses to guard.

NoteThe King James Bible says "the house of Asuppim." That is an old name for the storehouses, the rooms where supplies were kept.

16To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.

16The west gate and the Shallecheth gate went to Shuppim and Hosah. That gate stood on the road going up. Guards were posted at every watch.

17Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.

17Each day six Levites guarded the east side. The Levites were helpers at God's house from the family of Levi. Four guarded the north and four guarded the south. Two pairs guarded the storehouse.

18At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

18On the west side there was a courtyard. Four men stood watch by the road. Two men stood watch in the court.

19These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.

19These were the groups of gatekeepers. They came from the families of Korah and Merari.

20And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.

20Other Levites took care of the treasure rooms in God's house. They also cared for the gifts people had given to God.

21As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli.

21Ladan came from the family of Gershon. He was a leader among his people. Jehieli came from Ladan's family.

22The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the LORD.

22Jehieli's sons were Zetham and his brother Joel. They took care of the treasure rooms of the LORD's house.

23Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:

23Other family groups were the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites.

24And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.

24Shebuel came from Gershom, who was a son of Moses. He was the officer in charge of the treasure rooms.

25And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.

25His relatives came through Eliezer. Eliezer's son was Rehabiah. Then came Jeshaiah, then Joram, then Zichri, then Shelomith.

26Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.

26This Shelomith and his brothers watched over all the gifts given to God. King David gave some of them. Family leaders and army captains gave others.

27Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD.

27They gave things they had taken in battle. These gifts paid to keep the LORD's house in good repair.

28And 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; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren.

28Gifts had also come from Samuel the seer, from King Saul son of Kish, from Abner son of Ner, and from Joab son of Zeruiah. Everything anyone gave was cared for by Shelomith and his brothers.

NoteA "seer" was another word for a prophet, someone who told people what God said.

29Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.

29From the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons did the work outside God's house. They served as officers and judges for Israel.

30And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.

30From the Hebronites came Hashabiah and his relatives, seventeen hundred able men. They looked after Israel west of the Jordan River. They handled the LORD's work and the king's business.

31Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead.

31Jerijah was the chief of the Hebronites, listed in his family records. In David's fortieth year as king, the records were searched. Strong, able men were found among them at Jazer in Gilead.

32And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.

32Jerijah had twenty-seven hundred relatives who were able men and family leaders. King David put them over the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh. They handled everything about God and everything about the king.