1 Chronicles 26 11

1 Chronicles 26:11 kjv

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

1 Chronicles 26:11 nkjv

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

1 Chronicles 26:11 niv

Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and relatives of Hosah were 13 in all.

1 Chronicles 26:11 esv

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

1 Chronicles 26:11 nlt

His other sons included Hilkiah (the second), Tebaliah (the third), and Zechariah (the fourth). Hosah's sons and relatives, who served as gatekeepers, numbered thirteen in all.

1 Chronicles 26 11 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Psa 84:10"For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God..."Desire to serve in God's house, even in a humble role like a doorkeeper.
1 Chr 9:18"...who were gatekeepers for the camps of the sons of Levi."Historical role of gatekeepers for the sanctuary.
1 Chr 9:26"For the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in charge..."Chiefs of the gatekeepers holding a position of responsibility.
1 Chr 23:5"...and 4,000 were gatekeepers..."Total number of gatekeepers under David's organization.
2 Chr 8:14"According to the ordinance of David his father, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their duties of praise and assisting the priests, as each day required, and the gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate."Solomon followed David's precise organization of Temple staff.
Neh 7:45"The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, 138."List of gatekeeper families returning from exile.
Neh 11:19"The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers who kept watch at the gates, were 172."Another post-exilic count of gatekeepers.
Eze 44:11"They shall serve in my sanctuary as gatekeepers..."Future role of Levites, including gatekeeping, in the restored temple.
1 Cor 14:33"For God is not a God of confusion but of peace..."Divine order and peace in all aspects of worship and administration.
1 Cor 14:40"But all things should be done decently and in order."Principle of order in communal and sacred service.
Tit 1:5"This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order..."Importance of proper administration and structure in God's work.
Num 3:6-7"Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. They shall keep guard over him and over the whole congregation before the tent of meeting..."God's specific call for Levites to guard and minister.
Num 4:2"Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their clans and their fathers' houses..."Census-taking for Levites to assign specific duties based on family.
Num 8:6"Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and cleanse them."Consecration and preparation of Levites for service.
Deut 33:10"They shall teach your statutes to Jacob and your law to Israel..."Levitical role beyond gatekeeping, including teaching God's law.
Rom 12:6-8"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy... if service... if teaching..."Emphasizes diverse roles and gifts for communal service.
1 Chr 23:24"These were the sons of Levi according to their fathers' houses, the heads of fathers' houses, as they were listed by name, individually, who performed the work for the service of the house of the Lord..."Detailed lists of Levites for their assigned service.
Exod 6:19"The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their fathers' houses."Lineage traced for specific Levite family groups.
Matt 25:21"His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’"Reward for faithfulness in appointed service, even in seemingly small roles.
1 Cor 4:2"Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful."Importance of faithfulness in one's assigned duties.
Num 1:53"But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel when the sanctuary is defiled."Levites as guardians preventing unholiness near the sacred.
Num 18:5"So you shall keep guard over the sanctuary and over the altar, that there may never again be wrath on the people of Israel."Direct command for Levites to protect the sanctity of God's dwelling.
Matt 1:1"The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."Importance of biblical genealogies in establishing identity and legitimacy.

1 Chronicles 26 verses

1 Chronicles 26 11 Meaning

1 Chronicles 26:11 meticulously lists three sons within the lineage of Hosah—Hilkaiah, Tebaliah, and Zechariah—specifying their order as second, third, and fourth respectively. The verse concludes by stating that the collective count of Hosah's sons and brethren assigned to service amounted to thirteen. This detail highlights the Chronicler's precise administrative record-keeping for the Levite gatekeepers of the Temple, emphasizing order, hereditary service, and comprehensive accountability within the sacred roles established by David.

1 Chronicles 26 11 Context

First Chronicles 26:11 is part of a larger section (chapters 23-26) detailing David's meticulous organization of the Levites into divisions for service in the Temple. This comprehensive arrangement includes not only priests but also musicians, treasurers, scribes, and critically, gatekeepers, who were responsible for guarding the Temple complex, maintaining order, controlling access, and managing the entry and exit of people and supplies. Verse 11 specifically continues the enumeration of these gatekeepers, focusing on the lineage of Hosah from the Merariites. This attention to detail reflects the Chronicler's post-exilic concern with restoring and emphasizing proper worship and structure as ordained by David, thereby reinforcing the continuity and legitimacy of Temple practices for the returning community. The historical context is post-exilic, where precise record-keeping was vital for identity, function, and claiming heritage within the restored theocracy.

1 Chronicles 26 11 Word analysis

  • Hilkaiah (Hebrew: חִלְקִיָּהוּ, Ḥilqîyāhū): "My portion is Yahweh." This name, though shared by a significant high priest, signifies a deep theological conviction—that God Himself is the ultimate inheritance or reward, especially fitting for a Levite whose tribal inheritance was the Lord (Num 18:20). His being listed "the second" implies a clear hierarchy or established birth order within Hosah's family of gatekeepers.
  • Tebaliah (Hebrew: טְבַלְיָהוּ, Ṭəbalyāhū): The precise meaning is debated but commonly associated with "Yahweh has dipped" (perhaps signifying purification or consecration) or "Yahweh is good." The name suggests a dedicated individual for sacred service. Listed as "the third" continues the pattern of orderly designation.
  • Zechariah (Hebrew: זְכַרְיָהוּ, Zəḵaryāhū): "Yahweh remembers." This is a highly significant and common name in the Bible, borne by prophets and priests. It serves as a reminder of God's covenant faithfulness and His remembering His people. As "the fourth," the orderly numbering continues.
  • "the second, the third, the fourth": These ordinal numbers are crucial, demonstrating the highly organized and systematic nature of the Temple administration under David. They point to a pre-defined succession, a clear understanding of roles, and meticulous record-keeping. This precision underscores the divine importance placed on order in worship.
  • "all these": A collective phrase that emphasizes the total enumeration, showing that no one within this family group designated for this specific service was omitted. It ensures the completeness of the record.
  • "the sons and brethren of Hosah": This phrase specifies the familial relationship and extent of the group. "Sons" indicates direct descendants involved in the family's inherited role as gatekeepers. "Brethren" can imply other immediate kin (like siblings of the enumerated sons, or broader extended family members) who were also under Hosah's administrative purview for this specific service. It highlights a multi-generational, family-centric approach to Levitical duties. Hosah, himself a gatekeeper (1 Chron 26:10), was a recognized leader within this division.
  • "were thirteen": The exact numerical count of thirteen for this group reflects the Chronicler's intense focus on accurate records and complete enumeration. It signifies the specific, finite number of individuals from Hosah's line involved in this precise facet of Temple service. Such detailed numerical accounts are characteristic of biblical administrative texts, conveying a sense of order, divine sovereignty, and meticulous execution of God's will in the organization of His sanctuary.

1 Chronicles 26 11 Bonus section

The chronicler's extensive genealogical lists and organizational details, as seen in this verse, served several crucial purposes for the post-exilic community:

  1. Legitimacy and Identity: They helped establish the legitimate lineage for those performing sacred duties, vital after the disruption of the exile. Knowing one's precise tribal and familial connections to the historical Levitical lines ensured purity of service and right to priestly or Levitical benefits.
  2. Continuity with David's Vision: The detailed descriptions affirm that the returning community was restoring the worship structure exactly as designed by King David, ensuring historical and divine continuity, thereby reinforcing its validity.
  3. Encouragement and Restoration: By emphasizing the detailed divine ordering of temple service, the Chronicler aimed to encourage the community in re-establishing their religious life. Even the most seemingly mundane tasks, like gatekeeping, were integral to God's grand design.
  4. Security and Holiness: The role of the gatekeepers was critical for maintaining the sanctity and security of the Temple. Their precision in numbering signifies the systematic protection of access to God's presence, ensuring only the permitted could enter certain sacred areas, reflecting the holiness required for interacting with God. This concept echoes the importance of reverence and proper approach to God's dwelling place.

1 Chronicles 26 11 Commentary

1 Chronicles 26:11 provides a precise administrative snapshot of the Levite gatekeepers in the Temple, particularly those from the line of Hosah. The meticulous naming and numbering of individuals ("Hilkaiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth") alongside the collective tally ("all these...were thirteen") underscores the intense emphasis on order, structure, and accountability within David's organization of divine service. This verse is not merely a dry list; it reflects the deep spiritual principle that God is a God of order, and His house, which symbolically represents His presence, must be managed with precision and intentionality. The "sons and brethren of Hosah" detail emphasizes the familial and hereditary nature of these sacred roles, ensuring continuity and training across generations, a practice vital for preserving the purity and integrity of Temple worship in a pre-modern context. Each individual, no matter how small their recorded part, contributed to the proper functioning of God's holy dwelling, reflecting the broader biblical truth that every believer, empowered by the Spirit, is called to play a specific, often quiet yet crucial, role in the larger body of Christ. The specificity in numbering contrasts with arbitrary or disorganized pagan cultic practices, subtly reinforcing the unique and divinely instituted nature of Israel's worship.