📖WEB · 1 Chronicles 9:19
What does 1 Chronicles 9:19 mean?
"Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers, of his father’s house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent. Their fathers had been over Yahweh’s camp, keepers of the entry."
— 1 Chronicles 9:19 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers (Shallum was the chief),
who previously served in the king’s gate eastward. They were the gatekeepers for the camp of the children of Levi.
Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers, of his father’s house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent. Their fathers had been over Yahweh’s camp, keepers of the entry.
Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, and Yahweh was with him.
Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the door of the Tent of Meeting.
All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers in the thresholds were two hundred twelve. These were listed by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer ordained in their office of trust.
Explanation
1 Chronicles 9:19 introduces us to Shallum, a Levite descended from Korah, who along with his relatives served as gatekeepers of the tabernacle. In plain terms, the verse tells us that this family had a specific, hereditary job: guarding the entrances to the sacred tent, controlling who and what passed through its thresholds. The verse also notes that this was not a new assignment but a continuation of a role their ancestors had held going back to the wilderness wanderings, when Israel camped around the tabernacle and needed order and protection around the entrance to God's dwelling place.
The context here is important. First Chronicles was likely compiled after the Babylonian exile, addressed to the returning Jewish community, to help them reestablish their identity, worship practices, and sense of continuity with pre-exilic Israel. Chapters 1–9 are largely genealogical, tracing lineages to show which families belonged to which tribes and which roles they were entitled to resume, especially regarding temple service. Naming Shallum and his Korahite ancestry serves this purpose: it authenticates his family's right to serve as gatekeepers by showing an unbroken line back to the original wilderness assignment under Moses. This mattered greatly to a community trying to rebuild its worship life with legitimacy and order after decades of displacement.
There's also a notable detail in the mention of Korah. Korah is infamous in Numbers 16 for leading a rebellion against Moses and Aaron's authority, an act that resulted in divine judgment. Yet his descend
Compare translations
Go deeper with ScriptureCompanion AI
Ask questions about any verse, follow reading plans, write personal prayers, and track your daily habit — all grounded in verified scripture text.