Who was Shallum in the Bible?

Shallum was a gatekeeper of the tabernacle during the reign of King David. His family, the Korahites, were entrusted with guarding the entrance to the tent of meeting (1 Chronicles 9:17-19).

Why is Shallum significant in the Bible?

Shallum's significance lies in his role as a faithful gatekeeper, a vital duty for maintaining the sanctity of worship. His descendants continued this important service for generations, showing a legacy of dedicated temple service (1 Chronicles 9:19).

What did a gatekeeper like Shallum do?

As a gatekeeper, Shallum was responsible for guarding the entrances to the tabernacle, controlling access, and protecting its sacred items. This role was crucial for security and order in Israel's worship (1 Chronicles 9:22-27).

Shallum

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleLevite

Shallum was a gatekeeper of the tabernacle during the reign of David, and his descendants continued to serve as gatekeepers in the temple.

Shallum

Biography

This Shallum was a prominent Levitical gatekeeper whose lineage is documented in 1 Chronicles 9:17–19 and Ezra 2:42. He served as a chief gatekeeper at the Tabernacle and later the Temple, positioned at the King's Gate on the east side. His clan, the sons of Shallum, constituted one of the hereditary gatekeeping families whose responsibilities encompassed guarding the sacred thresholds, managing the storerooms, and overseeing access to the house of God. The gatekeeping office was ancient and honored; Shallum's ancestors had performed this function at the entrance to the camp of the LORD (1 Chronicles 9:19). His descendants continued this ministry through the exile and return, as evidenced by their enumeration among those who came back from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:42).

Significance

Shallum's role as chief gatekeeper of the Tabernacle and Temple carries rich theological significance. The gatekeepers were not merely security personnel but guardians of holiness, their ministry ensured that the boundary between the sacred and the profane was maintained in accordance with divine instruction. In Psalm 84:10, the psalmist extols standing at the threshold of God's house as surpassing life's greatest honors. Shallum's family perpetuating this calling across generations, surviving even the trauma of exile, reflects God's provision for the continuity of ordered worship. His ministry foreshadows the New Testament's vision of the Church as a community of priests maintaining access to the presence of God through Christ, the true door (John 10:9).

Verse Appearances (5)

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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Shallum

Biography

Significance

Verse Appearances (5)

1Chr

Ezra

Nehemiah

References