Who was Elam in the Bible?

Elam was a temple gatekeeper during the reign of King David. He is listed among the Levites who served in the temple, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 26:3.

What was the role of a temple gatekeeper like Elam?

Temple gatekeepers were Levites responsible for guarding the temple entrances, managing offerings, and maintaining order. Their role was vital for the security and proper function of worship, as described in 1 Chronicles 9:17-27.

Why is Elam mentioned in the Bible?

Elam is mentioned to highlight the organization and faithfulness of those who served in David's temple. His inclusion shows that even those in seemingly minor roles were important to God's work and were recorded for posterity (1 Chronicles 26:1-19).

Elam

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleLevite

Elam was a temple gatekeeper during the reign of King David.

Elam

Biography

This Elam served as a temple gatekeeper during the era associated with the Davidic establishment of Levitical orders, as reflected in the genealogical and cultic records of Chronicles. The gatekeepers of Israel's sanctuary performed indispensable service, controlling access to the sacred precincts and maintaining the sanctity of worship. Appointed Levites served as guardians of the thresholds, treasuries, and courts of the tabernacle and later the temple, roles King David meticulously organized in anticipation of the permanent house of worship his son Solomon would build (1 Chronicles 26). Though no individual deeds of this particular Elam are narrated in the text, his assignment as a gatekeeper placed him within the ordered, consecrated service of the Levitical ministry that surrounded the presence of God among His people.

Significance

Elam the gatekeeper embodies the scriptural truth that faithfulness in seemingly humble roles is essential to the proper ordering of God's worship. The gatekeepers in Israel were not peripheral figures; they stood at the boundary between the sacred and the profane, ensuring the holiness of God's dwelling place was preserved. Psalm 84:10 captures this dignity: 'I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.' Elam's Levitical service, however briefly mentioned, reflects the theological conviction that all roles in the community of worship, whether spectacular or unassuming, carry profound significance when offered in faithful obedience to God.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherShemChildShushan (son of Elam)ChildMachul (son of Elam)ChildHarmon (son of Elam)SiblingArpachshadSiblingAramSiblingLudSiblingAshur

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 26:3

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]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources