1 Chronicles 16 38

1 Chronicles 16:38 kjv

And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:

1 Chronicles 16:38 nkjv

and Obed-Edom with his sixty-eight brethren, including Obed-Edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, to be gatekeepers;

1 Chronicles 16:38 niv

He also left Obed-Edom and his sixty-eight associates to minister with them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were gatekeepers.

1 Chronicles 16:38 esv

and also Obed-edom and his sixty-eight brothers, while Obed-edom, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah were to be gatekeepers.

1 Chronicles 16:38 nlt

This group included Obed-edom (son of Jeduthun), Hosah, and sixty-eight other Levites as gatekeepers.

1 Chronicles 16 verses

1 Chronicles 16 38 Meaning

This verse details a specific appointment made by King David as he organized the ministry around the newly relocated Ark of the Covenant. It identifies Obed-Edom, sixty-eight of his kinsmen, another Obed-Edom (son of Jeduthun), and Hosah as those assigned to the crucial role of doorkeepers (gatekeepers) for the sacred tent where the Ark resided. Their duty was to guard the sanctity of the worship area, control access, and ensure order, signifying the meticulous care David took in establishing proper worship before God.

1 Chronicles 16 38 Context

First Chronicles chapter 16 captures a pivotal moment in Israel's history: David bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Having prepared a tent for it, David institutes elaborate worship, offering sacrifices and blessings, and most significantly, establishing structured Levitical service before the Ark. This includes appointing singers, musicians, and, as detailed in this verse, a specific group of Levites, including the highly blessed Obed-Edom, to serve as doorkeepers. This chapter signifies David's foundational work in organizing Israelite worship and centralizing its spiritual life in Jerusalem, laying the administrative groundwork that would be further developed for Solomon's Temple. Historically, these appointments established a divinely sanctioned order of ministry, safeguarding the sanctity of the presence of God in Israel, a critical element often neglected in the chaotic period of the Judges and prior to David's kingship.

1 Chronicles 16 38 Word analysis

• And (וְ – wāw): This conjunction connects this verse seamlessly to the preceding list of ministers and responsibilities, indicating that the doorkeepers' appointment is part of the comprehensive organization David undertook.
• Obed-Edom (עֹבֵד אֱדֹם – ʿŌḇêḏ-ʾĔḏōm): Meaning "servant of Edom" or potentially "servant of God" (from a related root ’adam, signifying steadfastness or 'mighty one'). This Obed-Edom is notably the Gittite, whose house had previously been greatly blessed by the Lord because the Ark of the Covenant stayed there for three months (2 Sam 6:10-12; 1 Ch 13:13-14). His prominent appointment here is a recognition of his faithfulness and God's blessing on him and his family. His subsequent generations are also shown to have crucial roles as gatekeepers (1 Ch 26:4-8).
• with their brethren (עִם־אֲחֵיהֶם – ‘im-ʾăḥêhem): Denotes that this responsibility was not isolated to individuals but encompassed a broader familial group or clan. This underscores the communal and hereditary nature of Levitical service, where families served together in various capacities.
• threescore and eight (שִׁשִּׁים וּשְׁמוֹנָה – šiššîm ūšəmônh / sixty-eight): A precise numerical detail that emphasizes the highly organized and extensive nature of the Levitical service structure established by David. This large number reflects the importance and demand for vigilant and orderly control over access to the sacred tent.
• and Obed-Edom also the son of Jeduthun (וְעֹבֵד אֱדֹם בֶּן־יְדוּתוּן – wəʿŌḇêḏ-ʾĔḏōm ben-Yəḏūṯūn): This specifies another individual named Obed-Edom, distinguishing him from the first by identifying him as the son of Jeduthun. Jeduthun was a chief musician appointed by David (1 Ch 16:42, 1 Ch 25:1-3). The inclusion of another Obed-Edom, from a different branch of Levites (specifically a musician's family), illustrates David's careful and inclusive distribution of significant responsibilities across Levitical families.
• and Hosah (וְחֹסָה – wəḤôsâ): Another specific Levite appointed to this role, mentioned also in the detailed listing of gatekeepers in 1 Chronicles 26:10. His family too held important gatekeeping roles.
• to be doorkeepers (לְשֹׁעֲרִים – ləšōʿărîm): Derived from the Hebrew word sha‘ar (שַׁעַר), meaning "gate" or "door," sho‘arim refers to "gatekeepers" or "doorkeepers." This role was critical: it involved not merely physical security but also controlling who had access to the sacred space, maintaining ritual purity, preventing unauthorized entry, and overseeing offerings. This position symbolized the boundary between the holy and the common, reflecting the awesome reverence required in God's presence.

Words-group analysis:

• "Obed-Edom with their brethren, threescore and eight": This phrase highlights the lineage-based, large-scale, and meticulously organized deployment of the Levites in service. The prominent mention of Obed-Edom indicates his elevated status due to past divine favor and trusted service, underscoring that loyalty and faithfulness were rewarded in David's administration.
• "and Obed-Edom also the son of Jeduthun; and Hosah": This phrasing adds layers of specific appointments. It demonstrates David's thoroughness in allocating distinct roles within the Levitical framework and signifies that diverse families contributed to the central worship, ensuring a comprehensive and distributed system of sacred duty.
• "to be doorkeepers": This defining phrase reveals the core function of these individuals. Their role extended beyond mere physical guardianship; it encompassed safeguarding the sanctity of the Tabernacle and its treasures, regulating access according to ceremonial law, and ensuring order. This critical responsibility reinforced the concept of God's holiness and the need for reverent approach in ancient Israelite worship.

1 Chronicles 16 38 Bonus section

• The position of gatekeeper, though seemingly lesser than that of a priest or singer, was highly respected and critical. They held responsibilities akin to "wardens" or "custodians" of the sacred space.
• The extensive detail given to their numbers and lineage across Chronicles chapters (like 1 Ch 26) shows that this role was significant, hereditary, and well-organized, ensuring continuity and expertise in maintaining the security and sanctity of God's dwelling.
• The selection of Obed-Edom highlights divine favor, reinforcing the Old Testament principle that God blesses those who faithfully serve Him and reverently interact with His holiness. His prior obedience in housing the Ark without harm now yielded him and his family a place of honorable service.
• This detailed administration under David prefigures the later complex structure of the Temple, emphasizing that orderly, deliberate preparation is paramount for effective and honoring worship of the Living God.

1 Chronicles 16 38 Commentary

First Chronicles 16:38 provides a focused insight into David's organizational genius in establishing a stable, divinely-centered system of worship. By appointing trusted individuals like Obed-Edom, along with numerous kinsmen and others, as doorkeepers, David underscored the vital importance of order, security, and sanctity in approaching God. This was not a mundane task but a sacred Levitical function, maintaining the boundary between the holy and the common. The doorkeepers ensured that worship could proceed without defilement or chaos, reflecting God's own attribute of order and holiness. This diligent preparation and staffing were foundational to Israel's spiritual well-being, demonstrating that service in God's house, even seemingly modest roles, required faithfulness, organization, and divine sanction. This care sets a precedent for how the people of God should approach and safeguard spiritual disciplines and spaces.