Who was Hosah in the Bible?

Hosah was a Levite from the Merarite clan who served as a gatekeeper for the tabernacle during King David's reign. He was appointed by David to help bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and later served at its resting place (1 Chronicles 16:38, 26:10-11).

What was Hosah's role as a gatekeeper?

As a gatekeeper, Hosah was responsible for guarding the entrances to the sacred tabernacle and later the tent housing the Ark of the Covenant. This was a vital role in maintaining the holiness and security of the worship space (1 Chronicles 26:10-16).

Why is Hosah mentioned in the Bible?

Hosah is mentioned to highlight the organized worship and detailed service David established for God. His inclusion shows that even specific, non-leading roles in God's service were valued and recorded for posterity (1 Chronicles 26:1-19).

Hosah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleLevite

Hosah was a Levite who served as a gatekeeper at the tabernacle during the reign of King David.

Hosah

Biography

Hosah was a Levite of the clan of Merari appointed by King David to serve as one of the gatekeepers at the sanctuary of God. His name appears in 1 Chronicles 16:38, where he is stationed alongside Obed-edom after the ark is brought to Jerusalem, and again in 1 Chronicles 26:10-11, where his family roster is detailed. Though Hosah's firstborn was not preeminent among his sons, David's organizational decree elevated him to a position of leadership within the Merarite gatekeeper division. Together with his sons, Shimri, Hilkiah, Tabaliah, and Zechariah, Hosah represented the faithful Levitical families who secured the gates of sacred space, ensuring that worship proceeded with order and reverence.

Significance

Hosah's role as a gatekeeper illustrates the importance of structured, faithful service in Israel's organized worship. The gatekeepers were not peripheral figures; they guarded the holiness of the sanctuary and ensured the dignity of temple access. David's intentional organization of these Levitical families reflected his conviction that worship required structure as much as devotion. Hosah's inclusion in 1 Chronicles demonstrates that God's redemptive community is sustained not only by prophets and kings but also by those who faithfully attend to the ordinary, essential tasks of maintaining sacred space, a reminder that no calling in God's service is insignificant.

Verse Appearances (4)

1Chr

1Chr 16:38 1Chr 26:10 1Chr 26:11 1Chr 26:16

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]

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