1 Chronicles 26:1–32

Read the passage.

The Levites in charge of the gates to the temple mostly came from the clan of Merari. Again the name of Obed-Edom is mentioned (v. 4) along with his eight sons. This was the man that sold the land of the site of the temple to King David when the angel of the Lord was bringing a plague on Israel. As is often the case, the number of children is connected to God’s blessing. However, the blessing did not seem to stop at mere quantity, but Obed-Edom’s grandsons are said to be leaders of great ability. (_v. 6.)

As the priests and musicians were given assignments by lot, so were the gatekeepers. Their duties, however, were divided into multiple places because there were multiple gates into the temple. North, south, east, and west gates, though not used equally as the temple faced east, so that would be considered the “front’ door and thus used the most.

The accountants and treasurers of the temple came from the clan of Gershon. Technically, the priests were also Gershonites, but since the Lord set them apart even within the clan set apart from the rest of Israel, they weren’t counted that way. Because of the Scriptures’ focus on the priestly line, it is easy to forget that Moses had sons too, and his line continued on through at least David’s time as we see here. The treasurers were in charge of the spoil that was won in battle and dedicated to the Lord, from Samuel’s and Saul’s time to Abner’s and Joab’s, David’s generals.

Lastly, we have judges and overseers appointed over the various towns and villages of Israel. They handled “everything pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king”. (v. 32)