Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 26:10
Hosah the Merarite also had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him as the first),
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Chronicler addresses his post-exilic audience by recording the administrative roster of temple gatekeepers. This verse occurs during a systematic catalog of the Merarite clan’s contributions to worship service.
The words — The phrase הָ/רֹאשׁ (ha./roSh) = the chief marks Shimri’s rank, while כִּ֣י (ki) = for introduces the explanatory clause. Together they state that Shimri held the first position by paternal designation rather than birth order.
The thread — This appointment pattern parallels 1 Chronicles 5:1, where the firstborn’s privilege transfers to another line, and 1 Chronicles 16:38, which confirms Hosah’s standing among the gatekeepers. Chronicles repeatedly uses this motif to document leadership selection outside standard primogeniture.
Why it lands — The text explicitly notes that Hosah appointed Shimri as first despite Shimri not being the firstborn. It requires the reader to accept that service roles are assigned by authority, not inherited by default.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 16:38 along with Obed-edom and his sixty-eight relatives. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were to be gatekeepers.
- 1 Chronicles 5:1 These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright.