Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 26:16
The lots for the West Gate and the Shallecheth Gate on the ascending highway fell to Shuppim and Hosah. There were guards stationed at every watch.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Chronicler records the administrative division of temple gatekeeping duties among Levite families immediately after noting the lot assigned to Obed-edom at the South Gate. This account occurs during the detailed organization of Solomon’s temple personnel.
The words — The text specifies `שַׁלֶּ֔כֶת` (Shalleketh) and `הָ/עוֹלָ֑ה` (ha.'olah), which literally means the gate and the ascending highway. These terms identify the precise location where the lot assigned to Shuppim and Hosah was placed.
The thread — The practice of assigning duties by lot reappears in 1 Chronicles 25:8, where Levites cast lots for musical service without regard to age or rank. The structural detail of divided gate watches parallels the court organization noted in 1 Kings 10:5 and the extended Hosah lineage in 1 Chronicles 26:10.
Why it lands — The text states that specific locations received designated guards and that every watch required a stationed sentinel. It requires a reader to acknowledge that temple service was distributed by lot rather than birthright and that complete coverage demanded continuous human allocation.
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
To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 10:5 the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.
- 1 Chronicles 25:8 They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.
- 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),
- 2 Chronicles 9:4 the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants, the attire of his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.
- Nehemiah 12:24 The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their associates, who stood across from them to give praise and thanksgiving as one section alternated with the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.