Who was Obed in the Bible?

Obed was a gatekeeper in the temple during the reign of King David. He is identified as a son of Shemaiah and a descendant of Korah, from the tribe of Levi (1 Chronicles 26:7).

What was Obed's role as a temple gatekeeper?

As a gatekeeper, Obed was responsible for guarding the temple entrances and managing the storehouses. This was a significant Levitical duty for maintaining the security and order of worship (1 Chronicles 26:12-15).

Why is Obed mentioned in the Bible?

Obed is listed to show the organized division of labor among the Levites for temple service. His inclusion highlights the importance of faithful, appointed service in God's house, even in roles that might seem minor (1 Chronicles 26:1-19).

Obed

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleLeviteSon

Obed was a gatekeeper in the temple, the son of Shemaiah.

Obed

Biography

Obed, the son of Shemaiah, served as a gatekeeper in the temple during the reign of King David, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 26:7. He belonged to the Levitical family of Korah and was part of the gatekeeping division assigned to guard the entrances of the house of the Lord. The Chronicler notes that Shemaiah's sons, including Obed, were men of great ability, indicating that they were not merely performing routine duties but were recognized for their competence and strength. Obed's family unit included his brothers Elihu and Semachiah, also described as capable men. Together, this family provided sixty-two gatekeepers from their household alone, reflecting the substantial contribution their clan made to the temple's security and operational integrity during the formative period of Israelite worship.

Significance

Obed's service as a temple gatekeeper represents the essential but often overlooked ministry of safeguarding sacred worship. The gatekeepers occupied a position of significant trust, responsible for controlling access to the temple precincts, guarding the storerooms, and ensuring that the holiness of God's dwelling was maintained. The description of Obed and his brothers as men of great ability (1 Chronicles 26:7-8) elevates what might seem like a mundane security role to one of spiritual importance. Their faithful service demonstrates that protecting the conditions for proper worship is itself an act of devotion, and that God equips and recognizes those who serve in supportive roles with the same honor as those in more visible positions of ministry.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 26:7

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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