📖WEB · 1 Chronicles 26:17
What does 1 Chronicles 26:17 mean?
"Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the storehouse two and two."
— 1 Chronicles 26:17 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
The lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
To Obed-Edom southward; and to his sons the storehouse.
To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goes up, watchman opposite watchman.
Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the storehouse two and two.
For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
These were the divisions of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.
Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of God’s house and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
Explanation
First Chronicles 26:17 is part of a detailed list describing how King David organized the Levites who served as gatekeepers at the tabernacle, in preparation for the temple that his son Solomon would later build. The verse itself simply records a duty roster: six Levites were assigned to guard the eastern gate, four were posted at the northern gate each day, four at the southern gate each day, and two at a time were stationed at the storehouse, apparently working in pairs on rotating shifts. It is essentially a schedule, not unlike a modern staffing chart for security personnel at a large facility.
To understand why this appears in Scripture, it helps to know the broader context of 1 Chronicles 23–27. As David neared the end of his reign, he turned his attention to organizing Israel's worship structures so that everything would run smoothly once the temple was built. He divided the Levites into groups for various responsibilities: some served as musicians, some as officials and judges, and others, as described in chapter 26, as gatekeepers who guarded the entrances to the sacred precincts. These gatekeepers were entrusted with real responsibility — they controlled access to the house of God, protected its treasu
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