Ammiel
Ammiel was a Levite gatekeeper during the reign of King David.
Biography
Ammiel, a Levite gatekeeper during the reign of King David, is listed among those assigned to oversee the southern gate and storehouse of the sanctuary (1 Chronicles 26:5). He was a son of Obed-edom, a Levite of the Gittite family whose household had become famous for housing the Ark of the Covenant after the death of Uzzah. Under David's reorganization of the Levitical orders, Obed-edom's sons were entrusted with significant gatekeeping responsibilities at the sanctuary in Jerusalem. Ammiel's service as a gatekeeper placed him within the ceremonial and security apparatus of Israel's centralized worship, a role that carried both liturgical and practical importance in maintaining the holiness and order of the sacred precincts.
Significance
Ammiel's role as a gatekeeper during David's administration reflects the broader theology of order and holiness in Israel's worship life. Gatekeepers were not merely doormen; they were guardians of sacred space, responsible for ensuring that the presence of God was approached with proper reverence (1 Chronicles 15:18, 24). As a son of Obed-edom, whose household had been blessed by the Ark's presence (2 Samuel 6:11-12), Ammiel inherited a family legacy of nearness to the divine. His service embodies the principle that faithful, consistent ministry in seemingly ordinary roles is itself an act of devotion to God.
Verse Appearances (1)
1Chr
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]