Who was Jediael in the Bible?

Jediael was a Levite who served as a gatekeeper for the tabernacle during King David's reign. He was the second son of Meshelemiah, a chief gatekeeper from the Korahite clan (1 Chronicles 26:1-2).

What was the role of a gatekeeper like Jediael?

Gatekeepers were Levites entrusted with guarding the tabernacle entrances, managing offerings, and maintaining security and order (1 Chronicles 9:22-27). Their role was vital for the worship and daily function of the sanctuary.

Why is Jediael mentioned in 1 Chronicles?

Jediael is listed in the genealogical records to document the organization of David's kingdom, specifically the temple service. His inclusion highlights the importance of orderly worship and the dedicated families who served God (1 Chronicles 26:1-2).

Jediael

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleLeviteSon

Jediael was a Levite gatekeeper, the second son of Meshelemiah, during the time of David.

Jediael

Biography

Jediael was a Levite gatekeeper who served during the reign of King David, identified in 1 Chronicles 26:2 as the second son of Meshelemiah (also called Shelemiah or Shallum). His father Meshelemiah was the head of a division of gatekeepers assigned to the East Gate of the tent housing the Ark of the Covenant. As second-born among Meshelemiah's seven sons, Jediael held a position of responsibility within the Levitical gatekeeper guilds that David organized to maintain order and sanctity around Israel's sacred spaces. These gatekeepers were not merely doormen but guardians of the holiness of worship, entrusted with ensuring that the Tabernacle precincts remained appropriately ordered.

Significance

Jediael's role as a Levitical gatekeeper reflects the careful organization of sacred service that David instituted in preparation for the Temple his son Solomon would build (1 Chronicles 26). The gatekeeper guilds represented a vital layer of Temple ministry, preserving the distinction between the holy and the common. This order of service points theologically to the necessity of mediated access to God's presence in the Old Covenant, a pattern ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who declared Himself the gate through which worshippers enter (John 10:9). Jediael's faithful, if understated, service models humble stewardship within the community of faith.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 26:2

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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