Who was Jehohanan in the Bible?

Jehohanan was a Levite who served as a gatekeeper for the tabernacle during the reign of King David. His role was part of the organized temple service established by David (1 Chronicles 26:3).

What was the significance of Jehohanan's role as a gatekeeper?

As a gatekeeper, Jehohanan was responsible for guarding the sacred spaces and items of the tabernacle, a vital duty for maintaining order and holiness. This role highlights the importance of every task in God's service, no matter how seemingly small.

What key events was Jehohanan involved in?

Jehohanan was appointed to his position as part of King David's final organization of the Levitical priests and temple servants. This event is recorded in 1 Chronicles, which details the divisions and duties assigned to ensure proper worship.

Jehohanan

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleLevite

Jehohanan was a Levite gatekeeper during the reign of King David.

Jehohanan

Biography

Jehohanan was a Levitical gatekeeper appointed during King David's reorganization of Israel's cultic personnel, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 26. The gatekeepers of the Tabernacle and later the Temple held a distinct and honored office: they were responsible for maintaining access to sacred space, guarding the thresholds of God's dwelling place, and ensuring proper order in the approach of worshippers. Drawn from the clans of Obed-Edom and Hosah, the gatekeepers were organized by lot under David's direction, reflecting the divinely ordered nature of Israel's worship structure. Jehohanan's assignment to this duty placed him among those entrusted with the sanctity of Israel's central sanctuary, a role requiring both reliability and consecration.

Significance

The office of Temple gatekeeper, though seemingly modest in comparison to the priesthood, held deep theological significance within Israel's worship system. Gatekeepers stood at the boundary between the sacred and the common, embodying the principle that God's holiness must be approached with reverence and order. Psalm 84:10 celebrates this office: 'I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.' Jehohanan's faithful service as a Levitical gatekeeper exemplifies the biblical teaching that every appointed role in God's community, however outwardly humble, contributes meaningfully to the larger work of mediating divine presence to God's people.

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]

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